Ten new sex-related charges were approved Thursday against former Burns Lake mayor Luke Strimbold.
According to the BC Prosecution Service, the charges involve three new alleged victims, and bring the total number of charges approved to 29 and the total number of victims to six, all under the age of 16. Their identities are covered under a publication ban.
The charges, which span May 2009 to July 2017, include 11 counts of sexual assault, seven counts of invitation to sexual touching, and 11 counts of sexual interference.
READ MORE: Former mayor facing sex charges involving minors during time in office
Special prosecutor Leonard Doust, who was appointed to oversee the case, declined to approve one other charge. No details were provided on what that was.
Doust’s charge approval came as a direct indictment, which avoids the need for a preliminary inquiry and allows the case to head straight to trial.
Since his arrest and release on Feb. 3, Strimbold has been under conditions that include not being in contact with people under the age of 18 and avoiding places where young people gather.
He is scheduled to appear at B.C. Supreme Court in Smithers on Oct. 1.
