TORONTO – Police announced Monday they have laid seven additional sexual assault charges against a Scarborough priest.
This comes after the accused was charged with sexual assault following an incident at an east-end Toronto church earlier this month.
“I think that people came forward because they felt more comfortable,” said Detective Teresa Curtis of the Sex Crimes Unit at a press conference Monday morning. “Sexual assaults are under reported.”
Ioan Pop, 54, now faces a total of eight counts of sexual assault and one count of forcible confinement.
Police say the accused turned himself in on Monday and will appear in court in the next “24 hours.”
Police say the first reported incident happened on Sept. 3 when a woman entered All Saints, a Romanian Orthodox Church, in the Birchmount Road and Danforth Road area.
It is alleged the victim, while inside the church, was sexually assaulted by the reverend.
A couple who had entered the church managed to intervene.
Police on Monday said the other sexual assault incidents happened at the church and at residences between 2005 to 2011.
The complainants were women between the ages of 24 to 33 years of age.
Police believe there could be more victims and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
WATCH: Police announce seven additional charges against Pop during a press conference Monday
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