More sexual assault charges laid against John and Leigh Ann de Ruiter
A self-proclaimed spiritual leader is now accused of sexually assaulting seven women, and his wife is charged in five of those cases as well, Edmonton police announced Thursday.
Johannes (John) de Ruiter, 63, was arrested on Jan. 22.
He was initially accused of sexually assaulting four women in separate incidents between 2017 and 2020.
On Wednesday, three additional counts of sexual assault were laid involving three separate incidents alleged to have occurred between 2012 and 2019.
Police say de Ruiter is leader of the College of Integrated Philosophy, or the Oasis Group, which operated out of the Oasis Building in west Edmonton from 2007 to 2021.
Leigh Ann de Ruiter, 64, was arrested on March 13 and initially charged with three counts of sexual assault.
Police said the charges against Leigh Ann are related to three of the same incidents that John is accused in.
On Wednesday, Leigh Ann was jointly charged in two of the new cases John is also accused in.
In January, when John was granted bail, his lawyer claimed that the cases were actually consensual sex.
Dino Bottos said the women are now alleging they "were somehow placed under his spell or that he was somehow deceiving them into believing that they should sleep with him in order to find a higher state of consciousness."
Bottos then told reporters the charges will be "hotly contested" by John and a number of witnesses.
Leigh Ann was also granted bail on the initial charges.
Both she and John are next scheduled to appear in court on June 21 at 9 a.m.
Police, meanwhile, say there may be additional victims of the de Ruiter's and are encouraging anyone with information to call 780-423-4567 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Karyn Mulcahy
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
'Secret report' or standard research? B.C. government addresses safe supply allegations
B.C.’s premier and one of his top lieutenants are pushing back against allegations by the Official Opposition that he covertly commissioned a report into the diversion of safe supply drugs onto the streets.
Video shows suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
She was too sick for a traditional transplant. So she received a pig kidney and a heart pump
Doctors have transplanted a pig kidney into a New Jersey woman who was near death, part of a dramatic pair of surgeries that also stabilized her failing heart.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.