Trevor Tucker, 57, was arrested after he was accused of sexually assaulting 10 men inside a church sanctuary in north Toronto. He is alleged to have assaulted the men between 2012 and 2014.
Tucker has been charged with 10 counts of sexual assault, nine counts of sexual interference, and one count of invitation to sexual touching.
According to the Crown attorney, it is believed there may be further victims. Anyone with information is urged to contact police.
Churches throughout the city are offering screenings for those who may have been a victim of sexual abuse.
Forty churches in Toronto have taken the alleged offences under advisement, both for now and the future. Some churches have closed doors for all worship and organized events.
There are several lines of investigation surrounding Tucker’s arrest. He currently stands in court, and could get himself some time behind bars, a judge could make a recommendation for sex offender evaluation and he could receive mental health counselling.
Toronto police said Tucker worked for Anglican Society as the human resources manager and the Windsor Ministries as human resources operations coordinator for about three years.
The Windsor Ministries described the organization as an “emergency ministry” for the Anglican Diocese of Toronto.
“We were shocked by the allegations,” said Canadian Redemptorist Church in Toronto spokesperson, Kevin McDaniel.
“It was his first position with us,” McDaniel said, adding the allegations of sexual misconduct in the church’s annual report was kept in the back of their minds.
The Catholic Church has not come out with its condemnation.
“However, the allegations which have been made against Tucker are serious,” the diocese in Toronto said in a statement. “We remain in touch with our lawyers in Toronto. The diocese will make a further statement regarding the matter when more information is available.”
Toronto police say they would like to speak with anyone who went to the now shuttered Church of St. Anne, located at 3825 Bathurst St., between 2012 and 2014.