The RCMP is providing a timeline of the historical sexual assault charge laid against the chief of the Sturgeon Lake First Nation.
Spokesperson Mandy Maier says the reserve detachment first received the complaint on March 11th of last year.
The alleged incident took place in September 1974.
After Crown prosecutors reviewed the file, Henry Felix was charged last August with one count of committing rape — based on how the charge was worded in the Criminal Code in 1974. He made his first court appearance in September.
Felix was back in a Prince Albert courtroom yesterday — and his lawyer publicly speculated that the allegation might be politically-motivated.
Maier doesn’t know why it has taken 40 years for the alleged victim to come forward.
“I can’t speculate on that and I don’t why the victim may have come forward now. I can’t speak for them. I know it must have been very difficult and we commend them for coming forward in this difficult situation.”
Felix was just elected chief of the reserve earlier this month after a long court battle over his disqualification in the 2013 election.
(includes files from The Canadian Press)