Former Tsuut'ina minor chief pleads guilty to assault at Grey Eagle Casino

Emmet Crowchild, 55, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to common assault following an incident on Feb. 15 at Grey Eagle Casino where he attempted to kiss a woman without her consent.

According to court documents, Crowchild approached the woman after she waved him over, hugged her, and tried to kiss her. The woman pushed him back several times before he broke away. The contact lasted five to 10 seconds, according to Crowchild's defence lawyer, Joel Chevrefils, who described it as "a greeting that went too far."

Days after the incident, the woman texted Crowchild to say she was uncomfortable with what had happened. Crowchild replied with an apology. The woman reported the matter to police two months later. Crowchild was charged with sexual assault last summer but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of common assault.

At the time of the incident, Crowchild held the position of minor chief on Tsuut'ina council. He lost his seat in the November election—held two months after police announced the charge against him.

Justice Anne Brown accepted a joint Crown-defence recommendation for conditional discharge and nine months of probation. After completing the probation period, Crowchild will have no criminal record. His probation conditions include attending counselling, which he has already begun. Crowchild has no prior involvement with the criminal justice system.

"This is the first and only time you've been involved in any criminal litigation. You've taken significant steps to address issues in your life," Justice Brown said in accepting the recommendation.

This case comes roughly a month after Edmonton police announced sexual assault charges against Tsuut'ina then-chief Roy Whitney for alleged incidents dating to the 1990s. Whitney's trial is scheduled for Edmonton next February.