A student adviser at St. Francis Xavier University is facing charges in relation to sexual assault and exploitation that date back to 2008.
The charges come after an investigation was launched last August by the RCMP’s sexual assault unit of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division into a complaint of a historic sexual assault and sexual exploitation. At the time of the offence, the female victim was 17.
Michael Oliver Fisher, 38, was an associate pastor in Upper Hammonds Plains at the time of the offence. Police say Fisher has since been involved with youth through his work in other parts of Nova Scotia.
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Fisher, who is from Antigonish, was most recently working as an adviser for black students at the university.
In a statement from St. FX spokesperson Cindy MacKenzie, she said the school takes safety and security of the campus “extremely seriously” and said the alleged offence occurred before Fisher started working at St. FX.
“We have no evidence or reason to believe the safety of our students was ever at risk,” she said in the statement.
She said Fisher has been placed on leave from the university.
Fisher is scheduled to appear in Halifax Provincial Court on July 25 at 10 a.m.