Former Pelham doctor faces sex assault charges

73-year-old faces four counts involving girl, 16, woman, 39, in separate incidents, say police

A Pelham doctor who resigned from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario over misconduct accusations now faces criminal charges alleging sexual assaults on two females.

Charles Duncan, 73, of St. Catharines, has been charged by police with three counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual exploitation.

The charges come in relation to two separate alleged incidents involving a 16-year-old and a 39-year-old, according to Niagara Regional Police (NRP).

Duncan was arrested and released with a surety after a bail hearing at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse on Wednesday.

He appeared via a video feed from the lock-up at NRP headquarters.

He was also ordered to return to court Dec. 2.

Recently, the college investigated whether Duncan had engaged in professional misconduct or was incompetent in his practice.

In the face of the investigation, Duncan agreed to and signed an undertaking and resigned from the college, effective Oct. 31.

He also agreed to never reapply for registration as a physician in Ontario or any other jurisdiction.

Duncan also agreed to ask OHIP (the Ontario Health Insurance Plan) to deactivate his billing number.

The college lists Birchley Place, 209 Highway 20 E., in Fonthill, as the primary location of his practice.

He received his Independent Practice Certificate in July 1970 and he also had medical privileges at the St. Catharines hospital.

Police say investigators believe there may be additional victims in this matter and they are asking anyone with any related information to the case to contact them.