Youth pastor charged with sexual assault of teen: Winnipeg police

A Winnipeg Police Service cruiser is shown in an undated file image. (CTV News Winnipeg)

A 23-year-old youth pastor has been charged with the sexual assault of a teenage camp counsellor.

According to police, officers with the sex crimes unit received information about the alleged sexual assault in March, saying it involved an adult pastor who directed a youth camp group.

Police allege the pastor groomed and gained the trust of a youth camp counsellor who was a teenager at the time of the incident, which spanned August 2025 to March 2026. According to a news release, the survivor met with the accused on multiple occasions in private and received sexually explicit material from the pastor.

The pastor was arrested on April 30.

Carson Alexander Parago was charged with sexual assault, sexual exploitation, luring a person under 18 years of age and distributing sexually explicit material to a minor.

He was released with conditions.

None of the charges have been proven in court.

Resources for sexual assault survivors in Winnipeg are available by calling the Klinic Sexual Assault Crisis Line at 204-786-8631 or the Winnipeg Police Services victim services unit at 204-986-6350.

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If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis:

• Call 911 if you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety.
• The Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres' website has a comprehensive list of sexual assault centres in Canada that offer information, advocacy and counselling. 
• The Ending Violence Association of Canada‘s website has links to helplines, support services and locations across Canada that offer sexual assault kits.
• Indian Residential School Survivors Society crisis lines: [phone] or [phone] (24/7)
• Toronto Rape Crisis Centre crisis line: [phone] (24/7)
• Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: [phone] (24/7)
• Trans Lifeline: [phone]
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 988 (24/7)
• Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre for current and former Canadian Armed Forces members: [phone]
• Read about your rights as a victim on the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime website.