MOUNTING ALLEGATIONS
Fire chief faces 15 charges
Accusations of sex offences continue to build against Kingsville fire Chief Bob Kissner with police revealing three more alleged victims have come forward.
OPP announced Tuesday that its major crime unit has laid five additional charges of sexual assault against Kissner.
The new charges are the result of the allegations of three adult victims concerning incidents that allegedly took place between 2002 and 2016.
These latest accusations bring the total number of sex-related charges against Kissner to 15, and the total number of alleged victims to seven.
The 60-year-old fire chief was initially charged in December with two counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual exploitation as a result of alleged interactions with a 16- or 17-year-old male victim.
Then, on Jan. 5, OPP laid six more charges against Kissner as a result of alleged interactions with three other victims — who were also minors.
The charges were three counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual exploitation, and one count of sexual interference. The sexual interference charge indicates one of the alleged victims was under 16 at the time of the offence.
Kissner has been released on conditions. His next court appearance will be in Windsor on March 1.
Before his arrest, Kissner was regarded as a pillar of the Kingsville community. He has had leadership roles in the Kingsville and Leamington fire departments for more than 30 years.
Kissner has since been suspended with pay from his duties as Kingsville fire chief. Deputy Chief Jeff Dean has been appointed acting fire chief.