Winnipeg City Councillor Russ Wyatt has been arrested and charged with sexual assault, Global News has learned.
Winnipeg police say a man reported a sexual assault to them in February.
The man said he had met another man online in December, and they met in person more than once, according to a news release from Winnipeg police.
The complainant said he was given an illicit drug and sexually assaulted at one of those meetings at a home on the east side of Winnipeg.
Police say after he left, the complainant sought medical attention.
Wyatt, who is the councillor for Transcona, was arrested yesterday and charged with sexual assault and administering a noxious thing with intent to aggrieve or annoy.
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He was released on an undertaking.
Wyatt could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but his lawyer Evan Roitenberg, told Global News his client is innocent and they are looking forward to a trial.
Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham had little to say on the matter, but says Wyatt should step away from City Hall for the time being.
“These are very serious charges, and the matter will go before the courts and so I won’t speak anything further to that,” Gillingham said.
Lawyer Bob Sokalski says Winnipeg’s charter does not prevent a councillor from continuing their role if they’ve been charged with a crime.
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“A member of council must forfeit their seat on council if the member is convicted of certain offences, including an offence punishable by imprisonment by five or more years,” Sokalski said.
“Sexual assault is an offence that’s punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years, so with that maximum penalty, if there’s a conviction, city council would then be in a position to insist the councillor forfeit the seat on council.”
Wyatt was previously charged with sexual assault in 2018 after a six-month investigation. The alleged incident involved a woman who said she was assaulted at a home in the city that winter.
The charge from 2018 was stayed, meaning the case was paused. The Crown could have proceeded if new evidence came to light, but the allegation was never tried in court.
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