Accused in 1990s child sex assaults out on bail
An Ontario Court judge has granted bail to a man accused of a series of brutal sexual assaults against children dating back to the mid-1990s.
Richard Neil, 64, was released on bail Wednesday after a half-day hearing where Justice Bruce Duncan heard evidence from several proposed sureties who would be responsible for him.
That evidence is covered by a publication ban, which prevents disclosing most information presented at bail hearings ahead of a possible trial because it may prejudice a future jury.
The judge ordered Neil to be under house arrest in locations in B.C. and Ontario and to not leave except in the presence of one of his sureties. He will also be monitored by GPS tracking via a device worn on his ankle, among other conditions.
Neil was arrested last month by Peel Police more than 30 years after the alleged crimes and after investigators spent decades searching for a suspect. He was charged with 20 offences, including kidnapping, uttering death threats, sexual assault and forcible confinement.
The Crown’s office did not contest Neil’s release. Justice Duncan, in ordering the release, said despite the alleged crimes being “truly shocking,” he was satisfied with the proposed plan of release and that public perception must also take into account that individuals charged with crime are presumed innocent ahead of trial.
Police previously said that DNA evidence linked three cases of assault in Kitchener, Brampton and Oakville between 1992 and 1995, where the victims were allegedly taken into wooded areas of public parks and assaulted, in some instances with a weapon.
The investigation became known as Project Woodland and led to a massive manhunt that did not result in any arrests until this year.
Police did not say what led to Neil’s arrest, nor what they believe links him to the crimes. They put out a news release about the arrest 10 days later, immediately following an inquiry from the Star.
In recent years, police services have been turning to genetic genealogy to try to make arrests where DNA was discovered at a scene but never matched to any suspects in police databases. The process involves using public databanks where users have consented to upload their genetic profiles from popular services like 23andMe.
On Friday, police services released images of Neil — one at the time of his arrest and a historical photo — appealing to the public for information.
According to a press release from Peel police, “investigators believe there may be additional victims.”