A 29-year-old Edmonton nightclub employee accused in August of three sexual assaults is facing 18 new charges after police began looking for other possible victims.

Staff Sgt. Devin Laforce said he credits media coverage of the initial charges against Matthew McKnight for helping 14 new different women to come forward.

The total number of women making allegations is now 17. They range in age from 17 to 22.

"This is very serious, " Laforce, who works in the sexual assault section, said Wednesday.

"We certainly have had other investigations that involve a large number of complainants. This is the first time in recent memory …of having that number of complainants that are all advancing to court.'

New charges announced Wednesday against the 29-year-old McKnight include 12 more counts of sexual assault, two counts of assault and four counts of unlawful confinement.

The new charges involve alleged incidents occurring between December 2013 and July 2016, all of them connected to Edmonton's service industry.

"Certainly the complainants themselves all had some similarities," Laforce said. "There's a pretty tight age range that was targeted."

Laforce said McKnight used his position "to target the complainants" who were within the same industry.

Edmonton man charged with 3 sexual assaults

Matthew McKnight, 29, is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 7. (Edmonton Police Service )

On Aug. 10, McKnight was charged with sexual assault causing bodily harm, two counts of sexual assault and unlawful confinement in relation to three alleged victims.

On his Twitter account, McKnight identified himself as the director of sales and marketing for Urban Sparq Hospitality, a company that owns several prominent Edmonton bars including Knoxville's Tavern and The Old Strathcona Rack.

After police laid the first charges against McKnight in August, Urban Sparq Hospitality manager Brendan Crooks issued a statement that said the company takes the matter "extremely seriously and will fully cooperate with Edmonton police in any manner they ask us to."

McKnight, who is currently out on bail, is expected to appear in court on Nov. 7.

Police say there may be more victims and encourage them to come forward.