Winnipeg police say Coun. Russ Wyatt (Transcona) is facing another sexual assault charge allegedly involving a different victim after being charged earlier this year. Wyatt, 56, was charged Monday with sexual assault and administering a noxious thing with intent to endanger life or cause bodily harm in relation to an alleged historical sexual assault. Police say they received information about an alleged sexual assault that occurred in October 2023, and the sex crimes unit began investigating in April. In that incident, the man told police he became acquainted with Wyatt in July 2023 through a social media website and met him in person on more than one occasion. During one of those occasions, police say the two met at a home in the southwest area of the city. While there, the man was allegedly given an illicit drug and sexually assaulted. Wyatt was released on an undertaking. Police said Tuesday that Wyatt was also arrested on April 2 for possession of psilocybin, a psychedelic substance commonly known as magic mushrooms. Officers located approximately seven grams of the drug after executing a search warrant on a residence in the east area of the city that day. Police pegged its street value at $240. The sex crimes unit executed that warrant as part of a separate sexual assault investigation. Police previously said a man became acquainted with Wyatt in December 2025 through a social media website and met him on more than one occasion. During a meetup at a home in the east area of the city, the man was allegedly given an illicit drug and sexually assaulted. Wyatt was charged in March with sexual assault and administering a noxious thing with intent to aggrieve or annoy, and was released on an undertaking. A police spokesperson told CTV News the 2023 and 2025 incidents involved different victims. None of the charges have been proven in court. Defence lawyer Evan Roitenberg, who is representing Wyatt on the initial charges laid this spring, did not immediately return a call requesting comment on the new charges Tuesday afternoon. After Wyatt’s arrest in March, Roitenberg told CTV News his client is innocent and that they looked forward to a trial on the matter. The following month, Wyatt was removed from seven city committees and boards in a 14-0 council vote after the mayor urged him to step away from his council duties while he dealt with the charges. Wyatt refused to do so. “I believe in the rule of law. I believe this is a partisan political attack, and this council chamber is better than that,” Wyatt told CTV News after the vote, maintaining his innocence. Wyatt was also previously arrested in July 2018 and charged with sexual assault. He proclaimed his innocence and the charge was ultimately stayed in court. It’s not known why the charge was stayed, but a 2019 statement from Manitoba Justice said charges are stayed when there is no reasonable likelihood of conviction or when proceeding is not in the public interest. At the time, police said the complainant was a woman Wyatt knew, but few other details were shared. Wyatt was elected to council in 2002 and represented the Transcona ward until 2018, when he chose not to run for re-election. He returned to reclaim his seat in 2022, winning with over 46 per cent of the vote. He has not registered to run for re-election in the municipal election this fall. The deadline to register as a candidate is Sept. 22. With files from CTV’s Jeff Keele
