UPDATE: Former North Peace Pride Society board member arrested for child pornography, sexual interference, touching

UPDATE: Further information on the results from Sean Gravells‘ bail hearing and his next court appearance has been added.

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A board member of the North Peace Pride Society has been removed from his position following his arrest on multiple charges related to sexual offences involving minors.

Sean Gravells was charged with two counts of sexual interference of a person under 16, two counts of touching a young person for sexual purposes, two counts of possession of child pornography, and two counts of importing or distributing child pornography. 

The society released a public statement on Facebook on Friday afternoon about the incident involving Gravells, a previous president and board member.

The offences occurred in Fort St. John on December 29th and 31st, 2023.

The society says he was arrested on New Year’s Eve.

The society voted to remove Gravells from the board on January 3rd and has advised its community partners of its next steps.

“We want to clarify that the society itself is not implicated in any charges; these are isolated to the individual,” said the society’s statement.

Although some board members work with youth through library programs, the person arrested and charged did not, the society added.

All of the society’s board members involved in youth programs undergo criminal record checks.

“We are implementing measures such as subjecting all board members to record checks to uphold the highest standards.”

According to Dan McLaughlin with the BC Prosecution Service, Gravells made his first court appearance on January 1st, 2024, and attended court virtually on Friday morning for a bail hearing.

Gravells was released from custody on $2,000 bail and will be back in court on January 29th for an arraignment hearing, where he will enter a guilty or not guilty plea.