Matthew Power, a 30-year-old former figure skating coach, for Skate Canada, from Newfoundland and Labrador, has been found guilty of multiple sexual offences against two teenage students. On November 27, 2024, Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court Justice Valerie Marshall declared Power guilty on eight out of ten charges, including sexual assault, sexual interference, child luring, and making sexually explicit material available to minors.
The court heard testimony from both complainants, who described inappropriate and suggestive conversations with Power over SnapChat when they were between 13 and 16 years old. Power, who was in his mid-20s during the incidents, claimed he believed he was just trying to be «cool» by communicating with his skaters through the platform.
The first complainant detailed her experiences, alleging that Power sent her inappropriate SnapChat messages and explicit photos, including instances of sexual contact that occurred at his home and in various locations, including the local skating arena. The second complainant also testified about Power’s sexually suggestive messages, which she documented by taking photos of her screen.
Justice Marshall characterized Power’s testimony as «disingenuous» and stated that his behavior exemplified grooming tactics, which he engaged in while in a position of trust as a coach. Power’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 24, 2025.
Power was previously suspended from his coaching position pending an investigation into the allegations in January 2021. His conduct has drawn significant scrutiny, raising concerns about the responsibilities of authority figures in sports and their duty to protect young athletes. The case underscores the importance of maintaining boundaries and safeguarding youth in competitive environments.
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. Abuse survivors can trust us to use the information they share to ensure the person or institution responsible are brought to justice. We take the time to evaluate the specifics of your case and advise on the best legal option to help you receive the monetary compensation you need to recover from the abuse you endured.
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 to recover 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 to understand your legal rights
Compensation
At Wagners, 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 to recover from the abuse and cater to 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. 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 you 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.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/matthew-power-trial-wednesday-1.7087112 ; https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/matt-power-guilty-verdict-1.7394390 ; https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/power-final-submissions-1.7338800 ; https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/news/crown-says-nl-skating-coach-took-advantage-of-position-of-trust-to-abuse-teenage-girls-in-closing-arguments-100998241/ ; https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/news/nl-figure-skating-coach-testifies-at-his-sexual-assault-trial-100973417/ ;https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/news/not-enough-evidence-to-convict-st-johns-area-figure-skating-coach-on-sexual-assault-child-luring-child-pornography-offences-his-lawyer-argues-100997929/ ; https://saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/news/former-nl-figure-skating-coach-found-guilty-of-sexually-assaulting-luring-teenage-students-101009910/