Church youth volunteer makes court appearance

CANADA
St. Catharines Standard

A volunteer church youth program coordinator facing sex charges appeared briefly in St. Catharines court Friday.

Christopher Witte, 31, of St. Catharines had a bail hearing scheduled for Monday morning.

A publication ban on the proceedings was put in effect.

Witte was arrested Thursday and charged with two counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual interference and three counts of invitation to sexual touching.

Niagara Regional Police said on Thursday its sexual assault unit launched an investigation earlier this month into allegations of historical sexual abuse of young boys at Bethany Community Church in St. Catharines.

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