A resident of Lively, located just outside Sudbury, faces a number of charges after Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a residence on West Branch Road in Massey on Dec. 28.
News releases issued by the OPP state that officers responded "to a report of an individual who had sexually assaulted and threatened several persons."
As a result of the investigation, 29-year-old Michael LaPlante faces two counts of sexual assault on a person under 16 years of age, three counts of forcible confinement, three counts kidnapping and more.
Full text of the OPP releases follow:
Jan. 3 update:
SUDBURY - The Manitoulin Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has now laid additional charges in connection with a sexual assault investigation that commenced on Dec. 28, 2021.
The investigation is being conducted under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) and the OPP Manitoulin Crime Unit.
Michael LaPlante, 29-year-old resident of Lively, has also been charged with:
• kidnapping (three counts), contrary to section 279(1)(a) of the Criminal Code (CC)
• indecent act - public place (three counts), contrary to section 173(1)(a) of the CC
The accused was held for a bail hearing and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Sudbury on Jan. 6, 2022.
Original Dec. 29 release:
SABLES-SPANISH RIVERS - On Dec. 28, 2021 at approximately 11:55 p.m., the Manitoulin Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a report of an individual who had sexually assaulted and threatened several persons at an address on West Branch Road in Massey.
Police attended the location and arrested one individual. The investigation is on-going with the Manitoulin OPP Crime Unit.
A 29-year-old resident of Lively has been charged with:
• sexual assault on a person under 16 years of age (two counts), contrary to section 271 of the Criminal Code (CC)
• sexual interference (two counts), contrary to section 151 of the CC
• forcible confinement (three counts), contrary to section 279(2) of the CC
• assault with a weapon, contrary to section 267(a) of the CC
The accused was held for a bail hearing and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Espanola on Dec. 30, 2021.