The owner of the venue that hosts the annual “It Shouldn’t Hurt to be a Child” Trail Ride has been charged with voyeurism, which the RCMP allege may have been ongoing for a number of years
James Richard Hardy, 71, was charged last Thursday with one count of voyeurism after police executed a search warrant of Rainbow Ranch, the venue near Rochester that hosts an annual fundraiser for the Canadian Centre for Missing Children.
Sergeant Brian Scott, detachment commander of the Athabasca RCMP, said that at this point police are not sure of how long the alleged voyeurism has been occurring.
“We’re led to believe it’s been going on for some time, more than likely years,” he said.
A person temporarily residing at the ranch “noticed some oddities” and tipped off police, Scott said.
Based on the information given, police obtained and executed a search warrant on July 7, seizing a number of items in relation to the alleged voyeurism, along with loaded and unregistered firearms.
Section 162 of the Canadian Criminal Code defines voyeurism as surreptitiously observing — including by mechanical or electronic means — or making a visual recording of a person who is in circumstances that give rise to a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Hardy was also charged with five counts of careless storage of a firearm and four counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm.
Hardy appeared before a Justice of the Peace and was released from custody. He is set to appear in Athabasca Provincial Court on July 25.
The 2011 edition of the “It Shouldn’t Hurt to be a Child” Trail Ride took place as scheduled on Saturday, though attendance was noted to be less than in previous years. Inclement weekend weather may have been a factor.
Proceeds from the annual trail ride go to Victims of Violence Canadian Centre for Missing Children, and help to fund programs to prevent crimes against children.
