Police make sixth arrest in sexual assault investigation

Niagara Regional Police have made a sixth arrest in connection to an ongoing sexual abuse investigation involving acts alleged to have taken place over the past 20 years in Port Colborne.

On Monday, police issued a news release naming 56-year-old Christopher Gordon Brown, from Port Colborne, as the latest person charged in the case. He faces charges of sexual assault, sexual exploitation of a person with a disability, and human trafficking.

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.

Police have also arrested 44-year-old Susan Leitch, of Renfrew, Ont. She is charged with sexual exploitation of a person with a disability.

Shayne Ayres, also from Port Colborne, is charged with sexual assault, invitation to sexual touching, and sexual interference related to a 2016 investigation.

Port Colborne resident William Vorstenbosch, 50, is charged with sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a person with a disability.

Port Colborne resident Gerald (Butchy) Fleming, 52, is charged with sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a person with a disability.