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Retired priest, 92, pleads not guilty to indecent assault in historical residential school case

RCMP say retired priest Arthur Masse, shown in this handout image, faces one count of indecent assault in relation to a 10-year-old girl who was a student at the Fort Alexander Residential School in Manitoba. He is pictured here around the year 1972.
RCMP say retired priest Arthur Masse, shown in this handout image, faces one count of indecent assault in relation to a 10-year-old girl who was a student at the Fort Alexander Residential School in Manitoba. He is pictured here around the year 1972. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Archives of the Société historique de Saint-Boniface

A 92-year-old retired priest charged with indecent assault in connection with a historical residential school case has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Arthur Masse’s lawyer, George Green, confirmed to Global News on Wednesday night that Masse pleaded not guilty. Masse did not appear in person in a courtroom in Powerview, Man., on Wednesday.

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RCMP arrested Father Arthur Masse at his Winnipeg home in June and charged him with indecent assault in connection with an investigation into the former Fort Alexander Residential School, northeast of Winnipeg on Sagkeeng First Nation.

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Officers allege the offence took place when the victim was 10 years old and a student at the school, between 1968 and 1970.

Police say the investigation started in 2010 and involved more than 700 interactions across North America, as well as 75 witness and victim statements.

Since Masse was charged, RCMP confirm that more victims have come forward, and say they are looking into every report they receive.

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