Robert Hachey faces counts of gross indecency and indecent assault

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By Yvon Gauvin
Times & Transcript Staff

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BATHURST - A long-time girls softball coach and member of Softball New Brunswick's executive has been charged with four counts of gross indecency and one count of indecent assault.

Robert Hachey, 55, of North Tetagouche was arrested Thursday and charged yesterday in Bathurst provincial court by Bathurst RCMP investigating alleged incidents between 1978 and 1980 involving girls. The first complaint to police was lodged two weeks ago, according to one investigator.

All of the complainants were youths at the time, he says. Police have not said how many complainants there are.

Hachey was released yesterday on an undertaking, which includes a promise to keep the peace and be of good behaviour, attend court when required, abstain from sports coaching for teams with members under the age of 18 years, not be alone with youths under the age of 18, and having no contact directly or indirectly with the alleged victims.

The court issued a publication ban barring identification of the complainants in the case.

Hachey is to return to court Oct. 10 to enter a plea on the charges.

When contracted last night, Hachey declined comment on the advice of his lawyer.

Hachey has been a coach for many years, beginning with girls broomball, then girls softball coaching at the pee wee (age 12 to 14), midget and older intermediate levels.

He was on the coaching team for the girls pee wee team that travelled to the Quebec softball nationals recently and for the Chaleur girls softball team that competed in the Acadian Games at the end of June in Halifax as well as to different provincial meets.

He is currently coaching association co-ordinator and a former vice-president with Softball New Brunswick Inc, and was the recipient of Softball NB's Charlie O'Brien Memorial Award in 2006. He was named volunteer of the year in hockey in 2004.