A young Ottawa couple has been charged with forcible confinement and sexual assault, after two teen girls alleged they were held against their will in a west Ottawa home over the Victoria Day long weekend.
According to police, the two 16-year-old teens allege they were assaulted over two days last weekend, at the home of 20-year-old Caroline Budd. Budd was arrested Wednesday afternoon along with her 31-year old boyfriend, Anthony Comunale.
The teens told police that over the May long weekend, when Budd's parents were away, Budd and Comunale held one girl against her will, sexually assaulting her with a wooden ruler and a sex toy. The teen then returned to the home with a friend and that teen was also allegedly assaulted.
The teens reported what happened to them to police four days later. Police say Budd, Comunale and the teens all knew each other.
The Ottawa Police Service Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Section have charged both suspects with two counts each of Sexual Assault, Sexual Assault with a Weapon, Assault with a Weapon and forcible confinement.
Ottawa Police Cst. Chuck Benoit says police are still trying to determine the timeline of the allegations.
"We're trying to piece together that puzzle, the reasons and all that, and why were they attracted there a second time,” he told CTV Ottawa.
He adds the case is unusual.
“Investigators don’t get these files all the time, where it’s a couple involved being the suspects and being arrested for the same incident,” he said.
CTV Ottawa’s Catherine Lathem reports the Budd family is well known in West Ottawa and has strong ties in the neighbourhood. Caroline's mother, Pauline, is a well-known real estate agent, and her brother has bought a house across the street from the family home.
Budd has no previous criminal record. She lists herself on her Facebook page as “married.” In court on Thursday, Budd referred to herself as Caroline Budd-Kenny.
Neighbour John Jackson says teenagers come and go from the house where the assault allegedly occurred, but are not loud.
“I wouldn't call it a party house. It's never noisy or a problem. I mean we've never had a problem with them.”
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Catherine Lathem
