Two local social agencies have declined to comment on an employee and volunteer linked to a disturbing child sexual abuse case.

In January 2016, Toronto Police initiated an investigation into the sexual abuse of a child in London. A police news release says that between 12 to 14 years ago, two men arranged with the victim’s parents online to sexually abuse their child, who was under 16 years old. Police say two men then attended a London address to do so.

A local woman and a London man were arrested and charged by Toronto Police on Jan. 25 and Feb. 1, respectively. The child’s parents were also arrested and charged. Police said two other people have been arrested but did not elaborate.

Jacquelyn "Jackie" Laronde, 46, a resident of Kingston, has been charged by police with sexual assault and sexual interference. Laronde appeared in a Toronto court on Thursday morning. Police say the offence would have been committed before Laronde’s sexual transition, when she was known as Sean O’Toole.

Last July, Laronde, who attended high school in Moncton, N.B., announced on her Google+ page she had become the gender and sexual diversity program co-ordinator at the Kingston branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association. Listed as such on the CMHA’s website Friday morning, by the afternoon Laronde had been removed.

The Whig-Standard reached out to the CMHA to learn more about the position and its responsibilities but received little response.

"The primary concern for CMHA Kingston is the safety and security of our clients and we are taking appropriate steps to meet their needs at this time," Judi Burrill, executive director of CMHA Kingston, said in an emailed statement. "As this is a criminal investigation, CMHA Kingston is unable to provide further comment."

At the CMHA office, the door was locked and a light was on in a back room, but a note on the door said the office was closed for a staff meeting.

Laronde also held the position of co-chair of the 2016 Kingston Pride event and vice-chairperson of the organization Kingston Pride Inc.

Daryl Fraser, former chair of Kingston Pride Inc. who stepped down on Friday, left a message with the Whig-Standard Thursday evening stating he did not wish to comment.

"I have absolutely no comment because I will not jump on bandwagons to find people already guilty when we’re in Canada and they have just cause to get justice properly," Fraser said.

Fraser on Friday announced his resignation in a post on the Kingston Pride Facebook page.

"It has been my pleasure to serve on the board but I feel I must step down now due to personal reasons," Fraser wrote. "I wish the organization only the best for the future, and regret any inconvenience my resignation my cause."

On her Linkedin page, Laronde wrote under her personal summary: "My passion is homelessness and LGBTQ youth, as I remember the lack of resources when I fell into these categories when I was younger."

Laronde’s Linkedin page also shows she has an aptitude with computers. The page shows that at around the time police allege the offence occurred, Laronde owned Netherworld Cafe and Computers in Sudbury, Deseronto and Kingston. The business was a cafe and computer repair shop. She notes in the business’s description that she’s worked with Packard Bell and IBM to become an authorized service representative.

London-based photographer Martin Galloway, 56, has also been arrested and charged by police with sexual assault and sexual interference. He appeared in a Toronto court on Jan. 26.

According to Galloway’s photography website, he specializes in children’s photos and is originally from Scotland, where he worked as a police officer. Galloway’s website and Facebook page are filled with photographs of children.

The charges have not been proven in court.

scrosier@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/StephattheWhig

— With files from Postmedia Network