Still in other jurisdictions that could get you a sentence of up to five years.
So it certainly is not an "oh never mind" offense.
Canada is the same. Also, I don't believe msog has any source for what he has said. There have been several female columnists recently in Toronto daily newspapers who have been sharply critical of the police for not providing more details. It is the police who have simply said it was a "sexual assault" without any further qualification, it is not the media that is witholding the information--the media is complaining about not having better information to report, and publishing editorials arguing that this lack of better information has been irresponsible.
They have said he approaches his victims from behind and assaults them, but they have not said whether that assault is violent, whether it is a groping, or whether it is a full fledged rape. Since it's a 15 year old kid, I'd BET it's towards the minor end of the spectrum, but certainly the police have not been forthcoming with details of what he was doing.
If he really has been charged just with "sexual assault", and not aggravated / causing bodily harm/ with a weapon, then it's most likely groping and not violence. Hopefully.