Russell, Manitoba RCMP have arrested an ex-priest for historical sexual assault.

On June 13th 81-year-old Constantin Turcoane of Regina was arrested by RCMP in relation to a sexual assault dating back to the early 1970s, when he was a priest at a church in Lennard, Manitoba.

Russell RCMP received a report of an historic sexual assault on March 16, 2022. A woman in her 60s reported that she had been sexually assaulted multiple times over the course of two years by the priest when she was a parishioner at St. Elijah Romanian Orthodox Church. At the time of the assaults, the survivor was 11-12 years of age.

RCMP say their investigation involved locating and taking statements from multiple people, a search of historic church records, and liaising with church-related organizations to obtain information pertinent to the investigation

A warrant of arrest was issued for charges in accordance with the time frame the alleged assaults took place which in 1970 would be Rape and Sexual Intercourse Under 14. Turcoane turned himself into police and has been released with a court date.

Police do believe there are other surviving victims and are asking them to call the Russell RCMP Detachment at 204-773-2675.