A Penticton city councillor has been arrested and charged with historical sexual offences against youth in Ontario.
James Miller, 59, was a volunteer youth basketball coach in 1989 when the alleged offences against a young person occurred.
After police in Sarnia, Ont., obtained a Canada-wide warrant, Miller was arrested Thursday in Penticton.
Miller has been charged with two counts of sexual interference and two counts of sexual assault on a person under 16 years of age. He will be appearing by video in a Sarnia Court on Thursday.
In July 2023, Miller, who is also the editor of the Penticton Herald, stepped back from his public responsibilities awaiting a city staff investigation into issues that were raised on a Penticton social media page to do with similar charges the courts dealt with decades earlier.
He returned to work and the matter appeared to be over.
He is now on a mandatory leave of absence under the requirements of Sections 109.1 through 109.3 of the Community Charter. This section applies to a council member charged with offences under the Criminal Code.
Last July, when the issue arose again, the police in Sarnia confirmed they were aware of investigations into Miller but said there were no outstanding charges against him.
Now that has changed, police in the Ontario town said the investigation is ongoing and the Sarnia Police Service would like to speak with anyone who may have additional information or may be a victim.
Those with information can contact the Sarnia Police Service, criminal investigations division and speak with Det. Const. Andrew Veale at 519-344-8861 ext. 6131.