Retired CFL kicker Don Sweet has been charged with six counts of sexual crimes and one count of assault.
The crimes were alleged to have occurred while he was working as a teacher in the Mission School District.
From Patrick Penner of the Mission City Record:
In February of 2020, two former students of Donald Alan Sweet, who are now adults, reported the crimes took place while they were Grade 6 and 7 students at Durieu Elementary School, said Cpl. Jason Raaflaub, media relations officer with the Mission RCMP.
“We are releasing a photo of Mr. Sweet in order to further our investigation and identify anyone who may have more information about these, or other potential offences,” Raaflaub said. “He no longer lives in the Mission area.”
One woman alleged she had been assaulted, while the other reported being sexually assaulted, around 2007 to 2008. The assaults allegedly took place in the school district, and in the Conference Centre near Chilliwack, a March 6 RCMP news release said.
Their complaints were initially made through a general duty officer, before the Mission RCMP’s serious crime units took over the investigation, Raaflaub said.
SCU investigators forwarded their findings to Crown counsel, and Sweet has now formally been charged with four counts of sexual interference, two counts of sexual assault and one count of assault.
A warrant was put out for his arrest, and Sweet was briefly taken into custody before being released on Tuesday on the condition he appear in Abbotsford Provincial Court on March 15.
The 72-year-old played 14 seasons in the CFL with the Montreal Alouettes/Concordes (1972-1984) and Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1985). He won two Grey Cups and was named the game’s Most Valuable Canadian three times (1974, 1977, 1979).
The three-time East Division all-star connected on 327-of-344 career converts, 314-of-457 field goals, and averaged 54.1 yards on 499 kickoffs. He also punted 300 times for an average of 41.2 yards.
