News Release
OPP Officer Charged with Sexual Assault in Relation to Aurora Incident
Case Number: 19-PSA-201
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Joseph Martino, has caused a charge to be laid against an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer in relation to an incident that reportedly occurred in August of 2019 in Aurora. The officer is with the Niagara satellite detachment of the Burlington detachment.
The SIU was contacted by the OPP on August 20, 2019 regarding a complaint of a sexual nature against the officer. The alleged sexual assault occurred on August 9, 2019 against a woman.
As a result of the SIU investigation, OPP Constable Robert Horton is facing one count of sexual assault, contrary to s. 271 of the Criminal Code.
Constable Horton is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 50 Eagle Street West in Newmarket on February 26, 2020.
The matter is now properly before the courts. In consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, the SIU will make no further comment pertaining to this investigation.
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
- publicly report the results of its investigations