CALGARY, Alberta — A jury has found a 35-year-old Alberta woman guilty of sexually assaulting and sexually interfering with a 15-year-old boy following a trial that examined allegations arising from a New Year's Eve gathering in the Sundre area.
Alexa Suitor, from Sundre, was found guilty of both offences on Saturday, October 31, after jurors deliberated for approximately a day. The verdict followed a week of testimony at the Court of King's Bench in Calgary.
The case attracted attention because Suitor had reportedly been asked to help supervise teenagers who were staying overnight after the December 31, 2023, party. Instead, prosecutors alleged that she sexually assaulted one of the teenagers.
The boy's identity is protected by a publication ban because he was a minor at the time of the alleged offences. CBC Calgary reported that the jury returned its verdict Saturday afternoon.
What Happened at the New Year's Eve Gathering?
The allegations centred on a gathering attended by adults and teenagers at a rural property northwest of Sundre, Alberta.
According to testimony presented during the trial, the party took place on December 31, 2023. After the celebrations, several teenagers remained at the property overnight. Some slept on cots in the living room, while others stayed in bedrooms.
Suitor had been asked to help chaperone the teenagers.
The Crown alleged that, during the early hours of January 1, 2024, Suitor sexually assaulted one of the boys, who was 15 at the time.
The teenager testified that he had fallen asleep on a cot and later woke up to Suitor touching him sexually. He told the court that the incident progressed to sexual intercourse. Suitor denied that any sexual contact had occurred.
Snapchat Message Became Important Evidence
One of the central pieces of evidence discussed during the trial was an alleged Snapchat message sent to the teenager the day after the incident.
The boy testified that Suitor sent him a message saying:
“We took it too far last night.”
A friend of the teenager also testified that he had seen the message.
The prosecution relied on the alleged communication as part of its case, arguing that it supported the teenager's account of what happened.
Suitor denied sending the message. During cross-examination, however, she acknowledged that the boy was among her Snapchat contacts and that they had communicated through the platform before.
The jury was required to consider this evidence alongside the testimony of the teenager, other witnesses and Suitor herself.
Another Teenager Testified About What She Saw
The trial also heard testimony from another teenage witness who said she saw Suitor and the boy together on a cot.
The witness told the court that she had gone to the kitchen for a glass of water when she observed the two together. She believed they were having sex.
However, during cross-examination, the witness acknowledged that she could not see directly beneath the blankets covering them.
The defence challenged the reliability of her account, while the Crown presented her testimony as supporting the complainant's version of events.
The jury ultimately found Suitor guilty of the two offences before it.
Suitor Denied the Allegations in Court
Suitor testified in her own defence and rejected the allegation that she had engaged in sexual activity with the teenager.
She told the jury that the incident described by the complainant had not happened.
During cross-examination, Crown prosecutor James Molloy questioned her about the other teenager who said she had witnessed the pair together.
When asked whether the witness must have been mistaken, Suitor agreed.
She also testified that she had consumed alcohol during the gathering and had vomited before going to sleep. However, she maintained that she remembered the evening.
The defence challenged the prosecution's evidence, while the Crown argued that the teenager's account and supporting testimony established the offences.
Following the presentation of evidence and closing arguments, the jury reached its guilty verdict.
What Charges Did She Face?
Suitor was charged following an investigation by the Sundre RCMP that began in March 2024.
According to reporting by rdnewsNOW, police received a complaint on March 27, 2024, involving an alleged sexual assault connected to a volunteer with the Sundre Minor Hockey Association.
Investigators identified four male teenagers as alleged victims during the initial investigation.
Suitor was arrested on April 5, 2024. The original charges included:
- Sexual assault.
- Sexual interference.
- Four counts of making sexually explicit material available to a child.
The October 2026 jury trial, however, dealt with the sexual assault and sexual interference allegations involving one 15-year-old boy. The guilty verdict should not be interpreted as a finding that every allegation in the original investigation was proven.
Understanding the Difference Between Sexual Assault and Sexual Interference
The two offences for which Suitor was convicted are separate offences under Canada's Criminal Code.
Sexual assault involves sexual contact without legally valid consent. The prosecution must establish the elements of the offence beyond a reasonable doubt.
Sexual interference, under Section 151 of the Criminal Code, involves touching a person under the age of 16, directly or indirectly, for a sexual purpose.
Canada's general age of consent to sexual activity is 16. The law contains limited close-in-age exceptions, but those exceptions do not generally apply where an adult in her thirties is involved with a 15-year-old.
For sexual interference, the prosecution does not have to establish that the young person physically resisted or verbally objected. The offence focuses on the prohibited sexual touching of a person under 16.
The guilty verdicts mean the jury was satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the offences charged in this trial had been committed.
Her Connection to Sundre Minor Hockey
Suitor was a volunteer board member with the Sundre Minor Hockey Association.
Following the charges in 2024, the association said she had been removed from the board while the legal proceedings were underway.
The organization also stated that the allegations were not connected to hockey activities. It said Suitor was not a coach or team manager and did not have a role in delivering hockey programs.
The case nevertheless raised questions about safeguarding children and teenagers in community environments where adults are entrusted with supervisory responsibilities.
Parents and organizations rely on adults who volunteer with youth activities to maintain appropriate boundaries and protect young people.
The allegations in this case were not connected to the delivery of hockey programs, according to the association's earlier statement.
What Happens After the Guilty Verdict?
With the jury having returned guilty verdicts on both charges, the next major stage is sentencing.
The sentencing process will allow the Crown and defence to present their positions on the appropriate punishment. The judge will consider the circumstances of the offences, the applicable sentencing principles and any relevant information placed before the court.
Reporting following the verdict indicates that defence lawyer Patrick Fagan intends to seek a discharge for Suitor. A discharge is a legal outcome that, where permitted by law, can allow an offender to avoid a conviction being entered, subject to the court's decision and applicable legal requirements.
The sentencing outcome has not yet been determined.
Sexual interference carries a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment when prosecuted by indictment. The actual sentence, if a conviction is entered, will depend on the judge's assessment of the case and the applicable law.
A Case That Raises Questions About Child Protection
The conviction has renewed attention on the responsibility adults have when supervising young people, particularly in private gatherings where teenagers may be staying overnight.
Parents, guardians and community organizations must be able to trust that adults responsible for young people will respect boundaries and protect their safety.
The case also demonstrates the importance of taking allegations involving minors seriously and allowing the justice system to examine the evidence through a fair trial.
For the young complainant, the trial involved giving evidence about an extremely personal experience in a public legal proceeding. His identity remains protected under the publication ban.
The jury's decision represents the conclusion of the trial phase, but the sentencing process remains an important next step.
Conclusion
The guilty verdict against Alexa Suitor marks a significant development in a case that began with an RCMP investigation in March 2024 and eventually proceeded to a jury trial in Calgary.
The jury found her guilty of sexual assault and sexual interference involving a 15-year-old boy after hearing testimony from the complainant, other witnesses and Suitor herself.
The case highlights the legal protections Canadian law provides to minors and the responsibilities of adults entrusted with supervising young people.
As the matter moves toward sentencing, the court will determine the appropriate legal consequences of the convictions.
Source and legal note: This article is based on CBC Calgary reporting, including the October 31, 2026, jury verdict, and additional reporting by rdnewsNOW. The complainant's identity is withheld in accordance with the publication ban. The original allegations involving other potential victims should not be treated as proven by the verdict in this trial.