Anthony Gough rape conviction spurs calls for further police investigation

The conviction of a former non-profit director for sexual assaultis prompting calls for police to alsoinvestigatehis time employedat Quest, a Lower Sackvillefacility that serves Nova Scotians withpsychologicaland behaviouralchallenges.

Last week, Anthony Leo Gough was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to raping a 17-year-old girl with an intellectual disability in the back of a bus during a March Break camp.

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At the time, the 49-year-old served as executive director ofSocial Opportunities and Rec Society of Nova Scotia, an organization that cares for intellectually and physically disabled people.

But he hadalso been a part-time residential rehabilitation workerat theQuest Regional Rehabilitation Centre.

"There are many people there with an intellectual disability, at varying levels of abilities," says Brenda Hardiman, with Advocating Parents Nova Scotia, an advocacy group for people with intellectual disabilities.

"Some can speak out and some can't. Wehave some concerns about Gough's recent conviction of ...rape against an individual with an intellectual disability."

Hardiman says the director of Advocating Parents, Yvette Cherry,called police after Gough was charged in Marchto ask for a review of the man's time at Quest. Cherry left three messages, but they werenot returned, Hardiman says.

RCMP spokesman Cpl. Greg Church saidpolice did receive one call and returned it, left avoice mail, but never heard back.

"Our investigators are very interested in the talking to her," Church said.

He said police told Quest that Gough had been charged, but no new information came to light.

Hardiman says Gough worked one-on-one with residents at Quest andan investigation is warranted to uncover whether there are any victims at the facility. She says her group is disappointed with the apparent lack of police response.

"Where he worked with this population so closely, and where he had multiple opportunities to victimize many people, we shouldn't have to be asking for this investigation," she said.

'Unlimited supply of victims'

"He'd have an unlimited supplyof victims," she said, adding a police investigation into Gough's time at Quest should have been "automatic" after he was accused of sexual assault.

Hardiman also says Quest should have alerted the parents of residents to the charges against Gough.

"We think it should be done," she said. "Every family member of a resident who lives there should be contacted."

In a written statementtoCBC, Quest's acting executive director, PhyllisWilliams, saidGough was a part-time employee. She saida current criminal records check is required for all employees at the time of hire.

"During his employmentwith Quest, we had no concerns or issues with Mr. Gough's performance as a residential rehabilitation worker," she said. "Quest cooperated with the RCMPin their investigation of the matter at that time."