Lawsuit alleges Revelstoke city councillor sexually assaulted high school student in 2014

A city councillor in Revelstoke is on leave after allegations of sexual assault against a minor at a school in Langley seven years ago.

A lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court on Monday alleges that in the spring of 2014 Cody Younker volunteered to be a chaperone at Walnut Grove High School in Langley.

Younker, who lived in Langley at the time, volunteered with a program called Harrison Hike Experience that led Grade 10 students on overnight and day hikes.

The notice of civil claim states Younker met a 15-year-old student who was struggling with mental health issues and had suicidal thoughts.

It's alleged Younker asked for the teen's phone number after the third group hike and began texting her immediately.

He offered to help her with her homework and started to pick her up from school, according to the notice of claim.

Not long after, the alleged sexual assault took place.

The teen reported the alleged assault to the school board and Langley RCMP, which conducted two investigations, but charges were never laid.

Dan McLaughlin, spokesperson for the B.C. Prosecution Service, said in an email to the CBC that the matter was submitted to Crown prosecutors twice — once in 2014 and again in 2019.

"After reviewing, the file charges were not approved as the B.C. Prosecution Service concluded the charge assessment standard for proceeding with criminal charges was not met," he wrote.

The Langley School District and an employee are also named as defendants in the lawsuit.

The alleged victim, who is now 22, says a school board employee interviewed her at home shortly after she reported the matter, but the woman defended Younker and accused the teen of lying.

The school district said in a statement it is aware of the lawsuit, and is looking into the allegations.

Younker moved to Revelstoke in 2015 and was elected to city council two years ago. He is now on a leave of absence.

Younker has not yet responded to the allegations and they have not been tested in court.