Leduc RCMP officer pleads guilty to assaulting two teenage boys at Airdrie hotel
Const. Bridget Morla pleaded guilty to a common assault charge for touching two teenage boys at an Airdrie hotel on Dec. 3, 2022; sentencing set for Sept. 2026.
A Leduc RCMP officer has pleaded guilty to assault after an incident in an Airdrie hotel room in December 2022 involving two teenage boys, the Court of King’s Bench in Calgary heard Tuesday. The headline matter — that a Leduc RCMP officer pleads guilty — was confirmed when Const. Bridget Morla admitted guilt to an amended common assault charge related to interactions with two youths during a youth hockey tournament. The victims were 16 and 17 at the time and remain protected by a court-ordered publication ban, while sentencing was adjourned to September 2026.
Plea entered before Court of King’s Bench
Justice Nicholas Devlin accepted the guilty plea in person at the Calgary Courts Centre, with legal counsel for both sides attending via video conference from Edmonton. Crown prosecutor Sandra Christensen-Moore and defence lawyer John Benkendorf presented a joint submission on the amended assault count, and the judge formally recorded a finding of guilt after Morla responded “yes” when asked if she intended to plead guilty. The proceeding moved directly to a sentencing adjournment rather than a full sentencing hearing at that appearance.
Details laid out in agreed statement of facts
According to an agreed statement of facts read to the court, Morla attended a youth hockey tournament in early December 2022 and socialized in a hotel suite on the evening of Dec. 3. The document states alcohol was consumed in the room and that Morla had physical contact with both teenagers during the gathering. The Crown described specific touching of shoulders and thighs with the 16‑year‑old and contact over clothing to the groin area, as well as placing fingers inside the front of the waistband of the 17‑year‑old, all without consent.
Victim ages and publication ban reiterated
The two victims were minors at the time of the events and cannot be identified under a publication ban imposed by the court, which the Crown reiterated during the hearing. The Crown also informed the court that one victim immediately expressed surprise and discomfort at the contact, and that the other had been questioned about his age before Morla proceeded. The court record emphasizes that both victims were under the age of majority when the incidents occurred and that their privacy protections remain in force.
Investigation, original charges and employment status
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team was directed to investigate the alleged sexual assaults on Dec. 13, 2022, following the reported incidents on Dec. 3. Morla, who was off duty at the time, was initially charged in 2024 with two counts of sexual assault, but the Crown later accepted an amended charge of common assault to which she pleaded guilty. The RCMP suspended Morla with pay on Dec. 15, 2022; a stoppage of pay and allowances was ordered on Nov. 5, 2025, according to the Crown’s submissions.
Next steps: sentencing and legal consequences
After the guilty plea and the judge’s finding of guilt, sentencing was adjourned to September 2026 to allow the court to receive submissions and pre-sentence information. The joint submission tendered by Crown and defence will be considered at that hearing alongside victim impact information and other relevant factors under sentencing principles. Depending on the sentence imposed, the result could affect Morla’s continued employment status, any record of conviction, and potential professional discipline from the RCMP.
Court documents filed in the proceeding and statements made by counsel were the basis for the facts put before Justice Devlin, and the judge’s finding followed standard procedure for guilty pleas entered on agreed statements. The Crown’s narrative emphasized the lack of consent in each instance of contact, while the defence’s participation in a joint submission indicated agreement on the particulars necessary for the plea.
The matter remains before the Court of King’s Bench, where the scheduled September 2026 sentencing hearing will determine the formal penalty for the common assault convictions and any ancillary orders the court deems appropriate.
