An Alberta RCMP officer has pleaded guilty to one count of common assault after being charged with sexually assaulting two teenage boys. Constable Bridget Morla admitted to inappropriately touching the teenagers in an Airdrie hotel room in 2022 during a plea entered before Court of King’s Bench Justice Nick Devlin following negotiations between prosecutor Sandra Christensen-Moore and defense lawyer John Benkendorf.
Christensen-Moore informed the judge that both the Crown and defense will present a joint position on sentencing for a discharge. This indicates that Morla will be found guilty but will not receive a criminal conviction on her record. The type of discharge, whether absolute or conditional, is yet to be determined.
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for September, allowing the defense to gather positive RCMP performance assessments. Details of the incident were outlined in an agreed statement of facts read by Christensen-Moore, revealing that Morla, who was off duty, touched the shoulders, thighs, and accidentally the groin area of a 16-year-old boy who expressed immediate discomfort.
Upon discovering another teen was 17 years old, Morla made inappropriate comments, tickled the boy, and placed her fingers inside his waistband. Following the sentencing hearing, Morla will face an internal RCMP conduct hearing. She was initially suspended with pay but is now suspended without pay, as confirmed by the RCMP.