William Langille, an 81-year-old former Scout Master from Valley, Nova Scotia, has been charged with historical sex offences. The charges include five counts of indecent assault and five counts of gross indecency.
The allegations stem from incidents that allegedly occurred between 1970 and 1976 during weekly Scout Night events at the Valley Baptist Church. So far, two alleged victims, who were youths and members of the Scouts at the time, have been identified by the RCMP.
The RCMP investigation began in October 2024 after one of the alleged victims filed a report. Langille was arrested on May 30, 2025, and has been released on conditions. He was scheduled to appear in Truro provincial court on Monday, June 16, 2025. Investigators believe there may be more sexual abuse survivors and are continuing their investigation.
Civil lawsuits against Scouts are common in Nova Scotia and throughout Canada. You can learn more in our detailed post on sexual abuse claims against Scouts Canada.
Your Legal Options After Sexual Or Institutional Abuse
At Wagners, we’ve met survivors of sexual or institutional abuse who find it extremely difficult to share their experiences, even with a lawyer. We have a team that is professional and compassionate, so you can rely on their experience to explain your legal options and provide the assistance you need to fight for your fair compensation.
Survivors often benefit from working with a dedicated sexual assault lawyer who understands the complexities of historic institutional abuse claims and can guide you through both civil and criminal legal options.
File Criminal Charges
If you take this option, you will not get monetary compensation. Investigations will be done, and the accused will be arrested if sufficient evidence is found. If the defendant is found guilty, he or she could face punishment like imprisonment.
Civil Lawsuit
In this case, we pursue the case on behalf of the survivor in civil court. If found at fault, the assailant will be required to pay monetary compensation, which would assist the survivor in recovering from the abuse.
Class Action Lawsuit
It is also possible to file a class action lawsuit against an assailant who assaulted several people. The group of survivors can come together to collectively file a class action suit against the person or institution that was responsible for the assault or abuse.
Regardless of when it occurred, if you have been the victim of sexual abuse by a teacher or school staff in the Maritimes, contact Liam O’Reilly and the team at Wagners halifax to understand your legal rights.
Compensation
At Wagners law firm, we firmly believe that no amount of compensation can eliminate the pain and suffering that your assailant caused, but there is so much good that comes from a successfully resolved institutional or sexual abuse claim. As a survivor, the monetary compensation you receive can assist you in recovering from the abuse and cover the medical costs involved. Holding the assailant accountable also restores your dignity and encourages other victims of sexual and institutional abuse to come out and seek justice as well.
The amount of compensation you deserve for your sexual or institutional abuse claim will depend on many factors. If you’re looking for a trusted Halifax sexual abuse lawyer with experience in historic abuse cases, our team at Wagners can provide the compassionate and strategic legal support you deserve. Some of these factors include:
- How the abuse affected your ability to support yourself and make sufficient income
- The type of medical treatment you need or have sought due to the abuse
- The personal or unique circumstances of your lawsuit
We know that sexual or institutional abuse is a terrible experience, and many victims usually have a heavy burden that they are likely to carry for a long time. For this reason, we offer reliable legal assistance that you need to get the monetary burden off your shoulders. Our main goal is to build a strong strategy and successfully fight for your rights.
If you or someone you know has experienced abuse in the past, speaking with a sexual abuse lawyer in Halifax can be the first step toward justice and healing.