Man convicted in Maple Leaf Gardens sex assaults faces string of new charges

A mugshot of Gordon Stuckless is seen at a police press conference in Toronto, Friday, March 22, 2013.

A Toronto man convicted of multiple sexual assaults in the late ‘90s faces a string of new sex-assault charges after police received information from new victims following another arrest last month.

Gordon Stuckless, who was convicted in the late 1990s of sexually abusing boys during the time he worked as an usher at Maple Leaf Gardens, arrived at 52 Division Friday morning and was charged with nine counts indecent assault, five counts of gross indecency and buggery.

He was released on a promise to appear in court.

Police said the new allegations stem from information received after last month’s arrest when the 63-year-old was charged with six counts of indecent assault of a male, assault and possession of a weapon.

“It is further alleged that in the 1960s and the late 1970s Stuckless volunteered at local sports clubs as a coach and was also employed at Maple Leaf Gardens,” Det.-Const. Roger Villaflor told reporters Friday afternoon.

“Stuckless befriended the boys who were between nine and 13 years of age. Stuckless sexually assaulted them at various locations in the City of Toronto and also at Maple Leaf Gardens.”

Villaflor said police are working with five new male adult victims. He said more victims were identified but their cases are being investigated by the York Regional Police.

“It’s not surprising that complainants would come forward from the Region of York, as it’s well-known that Mr. Stuckless did spend a considerable amount of time in the Region of York in the same capacity as a teacher and as a volunteer in the minor sports community.”

Villaflor said police believe there are still more victims out there.

Last month, Stuckless was charged after allegations he assaulted an 11-year-old and 13-year-old boy -- now both grown men -- in the 1970s. At the time, Stuckless was a teacher and a volunteer at a Toronto community centre and sports club.

Allan Donnan, a victim of Stuckless, told reporters Friday that the fresh allegations come as no surprise.

“This man needs to be put away for his own protection, for the protection of everyone here that has a child,” Donnan said.

In 1997, Stuckless was sentenced to two years less a day after he was convicted of sexually assaulting 24 boys at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens, during a 19-year period that ended in 1988.

His sentence was later increased to five years. He served two-thirds of the term before he was paroled in 2001.

Stuckless is scheduled to next appear in court on May 3.

With a report from CTV Toronto’s Tamara Cherry