Man charged after child allegedly sexually assaulted at Victoria-area school

Mounties from the West Shore RCMP's bike patrol unit in View Royal, B.C. (RCMP)

A 21-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged sexual assault against a child on an elementary school playground this week near Victoria.

Brodie David John Mollin appeared in the Western Communities provincial courthouse on Thursday, where he was charged with one count each of sexual assault, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching of a person under 16, and exposing his genitals to a person under 16, according to the B.C. Prosecution Service.

The West Shore RCMP says the incident allegedly occurred between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 15, when the female child was playing outside Eagle View Elementary in the town of View Royal.

The girl was reportedly approached by an “unknown male suspect” who exposed himself to her and touched her in a sexual manner, the detachment said in a news release Wednesday.

The child, who is under 12 years old, left the area safely and wasn’t physically harmed, authorities said.

“This is a deeply concerning incident and our investigators are working diligently to identify and locate the suspect,” Cpl. Nancy Saggar said in the release.

The suspect was arrested Wednesday evening and is being held in police custody pending a court appearance later today, police said in an update Thursday.

“No similar reports of this nature have been received,” the update said.

“Investigators have canvassed the area for witnesses and video surveillance, however, if you have information regarding this specific crime and have not yet spoken to police, please call West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264.”

Mollin is scheduled to appear in court to schedule a date for a bail hearing on Oct. 16.