Chief of Manitoba First Nation charged with sexual assault, child luring

Manitoba Chief facing sexual assault charges Little Grand Rapids First Nation Chief Raymond Keeper faces a number of sexual assault and weapons-related charges. Mason DePatie reports.

WINNIPEG — The chief of a Manitoba First Nation has been charged with sexual assault and child luring, RCMP announced on Friday.

The RCMP said on social media that Little Grand Rapids First Nation Chief Raymond Keeper, 65, was arrested on Thursday. He has been charged with two counts of sexual assault, and one count each of sexual assault with a weapon, luring a person under 18, and touching for a sexual purpose while being a person in a position of authority. Keeper was also charged with three weapons-related offences.

The charges have not been proven in court.

RCMP officers said they received a report on Sept. 23 of inappropriate text messages being exchanged between a 16-year-old girl and a 65-year-old man, which prompted the investigation.

"Based on their thorough investigation, during that time we believe that there may be more victims, which is the reason we need to get this out there to the public so that if there is anyone that's been victimized, for them to please come forward," said Cpl. Julie Courchaine, with the RCMP.

Keeper has been released and will appear in court on Nov. 21.

Anyone with information on this investigation can call Little Grand Rapids RCMP at 204-397-2249.