(St. John’s, NL), April 14, 2023 – The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Unit have laid another charge in relation to historical sexual violence in St. John’s.

In November of 2022, the RNC Operational Patrol Services Division (OPS) received a report related to historical sexual violence by an adult upon youth in St. John’s. The Child Abuse and Sexual Assault (CASA) Unit were engaged to investigate the report.

The RNC CASA Unit is an investigative division of the RNC Criminal Investigation Division, which investigates sexual violence with a trauma-informed focus, placing the safety and wellbeing of survivors at the forefront of the process.

Since the launch of the investigation, the RNC CASA Unit have charged 62-year-old Tony HUMBY and 80-year-old Bruce ESCOTT, both from St. John’s, in connection with incidents of sexual violence upon youth. As a result of continued investigation, on the evening of April 13, 2023, the RNC CASA Unit charged 80-year-old Bruce ESCOTT with sexual assault in connection with an event believed to have occurred in 2019.

The accused remains in custody to appear in Provincial Court in relation to the charges.

Anyone experiencing anxiety or crisis as a result of this information, please contact the NL mental Health Crisis Line at 8-1-1. You can also seek support through the NL Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Center. In addition, the RNC Mental Health Mobile Crisis Response Team will respond to crisis where and when it occurs, and can be contacted at 729-8000, or in a case of an emergency at 9-1-1.

This investigation remains active, and officers believe there is further information related to these events. The RNC requests that anyone with information to assist this investigation contact the RNC at 729-8000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). You can now provide information anonymously on the NL Crime Stoppers Website at www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app #SayItHere

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File # 2023-18042

Cst. James Cadigan  #775
Media Relations and Public Communications
Royal Newfoundland Constabulary
media@rnc.gov.nl.ca