N.L. police lay charges of sexual violence against men in case extending back to 2019

A Royal Newfoundland Constabulary police car is shown in St.John's in a June, 2020 photo. The union representing fish harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador says a fire at its St. John's office over the weekend was a deliberate attack. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sarah Smellie)

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. -

Newfoundland police have charged two men with sex crimes that allegedly occurred in 2019 in a residential area of St. John's.

Bruce Escott, 80, is charged with single counts of sexual assault and sexual interference. Tony Humby, 62, faces two counts of sexual assault, sexual interference, and invitation to sexual touching, and single counts of indecent exposure, making sexually explicit material available to a child, luring and sexual exploitation.

The alleged crimes date to 2019 and involve multiple teenagers, Const. James Cadigan with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary said in an interview Monday.

"St. John's, in the east end of the city, is where the events are believed to have occurred," he said.

The constabulary's sexual assault unit has been investigating the two men since November, Cadigan said, adding that the luring and sexual exploitation charges reflect the fact that investigators are alleging "a level of grooming" was involved in some of the cases.

Both men appeared in provincial court Friday and were scheduled for a bail hearing Monday afternoon.

Cadigan said police are hoping others come forward with more information in the case.

"We do have suspicion there are other individuals impacted by these events and that there's more information out there," he said. "We're asking for anyone with more information to come forward."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 10, 2023.