Editor's Note: The Hearst-Moosonee Diocese has confirmed the accused is a priest and has been removed from Ministry.
NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
*************************
On Feb.7, 2020, members of the James Bay Detachments of the Ontario Provincial Police entered into an investigation involving allegations of a historical sexual assault in the Town of Hearst.
As a result of the investigation, Fernand Villeneuve, 80 years old, of Hearst, Ont., has been charged with the following offences:
- Sexual assault contrary to section 246.1(1) of the Criminal Code (CC),
- Gross indecency contrary to section 157 CC,
- Sexual interference contrary to section 151 CC,
- Sexual exploitation contrary to section 153(1)(a) CC, two Counts,
- Invitation to sexual touching under 16 years of age contrary to section 152 CC,
- Sexual exploitation contrary to section 153(1)(b) CC,
- Indecent exposure to a person under 16 years of age contrary to section 173(2) CC, and
- Sexual assault on a person under 16 years of age contrary to section 271 CC.
The accused is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Hearst on March 18, 2020.
OPP Crime Units from the James Bay Detachments and the Sudbury Detachment as well as the OPP Forensic Identification Service (FIS), assisted in this investigation.
*************************
