Fourth man arrested in historic sexual assaults
Niagara Regional Police have made a fourth arrest in relation to alleged historic sexual assaults that occurred over a 20year period in Port Colborne.
Thursday, police arrested 70year-old Shane Ayres of Port Colborne and said he faces two counts of alleged sexual assault.
He was being held in custody pending a bail hearing Friday in St. Catharines
Police said investigators from the sexual assault unit, child abuse unit and domestic violence unit continue to actively investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged neglect and abuse that took place.
On Tuesday, police made their third arrest in the case.
Arrested was 50-year-old Port Colborne resident William Vorstenbosch, who was facing charges for alleged sexual assault and alleged sexual exploitation of a person with a disability.
The first arrest in the alleged historic assaults took place Monday, June 25 when officers took a 55-year-old Port Colborne man into custody.
That man, who is not being identified to protect his alleged victims, was accused of committing sexual offences, physical abuse and neglect against several victims, most of whom were members of his immediate family. Most of the offences are alleged to have occurred when victims were under the age of 16.
He was charged with six counts of sexual assault, four counts of sexual interference, four counts of sexual exploitation, four counts of invitation to sexual touching, sexual exploitation of a person with a disability, three counts of incest, four counts of corrupting children, four counts of fail to provide necessaries of life, four counts of forcible confinement, assault with a weapon, four counts of assault, and uttering death threats.
The second arrest took place Thursday, June 28 when regional police took 52-year-old Gerald ’Butchy’ Fleming, of Port Colborne, into custody.
Fleming was with sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a person with a disability.
Investigators are encouraging others with information to call a hotline at 289-248-1035 or contact police via email at matthew.hodges@ niagarapolice.ca.