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Edmonton youth basketball coach charged with sexual assault

An Edmonton basketball coach was charged with, among other things, sexual assault after a teenager he coached reported that he had attacked her.

The 16-year-old girl reported the attack to Edmonton police last month.

She said it happened earlier this year in a hotel when she and the coach were attending a development camp out of town.

“It was reported to police that the trainer produced bottles of alcohol and hallucinogenic drugs and encouraged the plaintiff to consume them,” EPS said in a press release on Friday. “When he was drunk, he sexually abused the plaintiff.”

Ronald William Olson, 48, was charged with sexual assault, sexual exploitation, administration of a poisonous substance and possession of controlled drugs.

He was released on several conditions, including that he not have contact with anyone under the age of 16, not visit public swimming pools, schools, daycare centers, playgrounds or public libraries, and not accept or perform any voluntary work or employment where he is a person of trust or authority over anyone under the age of 16.

His court date is scheduled for July 10.

According to EPS, Olson has been a basketball coach in Edmonton since 2015 and police believe there may be more victims.

Anyone with information is asked to call EPS at 780-423-4567 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.