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ONTARIO: Volleyball ref faces 14 sexual misconduct charges

Police say the incidents happened at a high school tournament in Guelph
Guelph Police Stock 2016

GUELPH – Guelph police have charged a 63-year-old volleyball referee with 14 counts of sexual misconduct following alleged incidents that happened at a high school volleyball tournament.

Hughbee Brown of Dashwood, Ont., near Grand Bend, has been charged with seven counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual interference and five counts of sexual exploitation. 

Police report Brown has worked as a youth volleyball referee for over 30 years, with approximately 20 years in the district 4, district 8, and district 10 high school systems. Local district school boards have been notified by police.

Police say that on May 11 they commenced an investigation in response to complaints regarding Brown, who was working as a referee at a high school volleyball tournament held at the University of Guelph between May 2 and May 4. 

A number of female volunteers, ages 13 to 17, who were working during the tournament reported inappropriate sexual conduct towards them by Brown. Further investigation revealed an incident of a similar nature occurred in Guelph on March 29, 2022 involving two 17-year-old females working at a volleyball game at their high school.

He will appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on June 28.

Police are asking anyone who may have information related to either of these investigations, or any other incident involving Brown to contact Detective Constable Mike Gatto at 519-824-1212, ext. 7515 or email [email protected].