Article content

A top B.C. Indigenous leader, Edward John, has been charged with sexual assaults alleged to have happened more than 40 years ago in Prince George.

John, 70, a hereditary chief of the Tl’azt’en Nation and a former B.C. minister for children and families, faces four counts of having sexual intercourse with a woman without her consent, according to the B.C. Prosecution Service.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or B.C. First Nations chief Ed John charged with sex assault Back to video

Lawyer Michael Klein has been appointed as a special prosecutor in the case.

Prosecution spokesman Dan McLaughlin said he would not comment on the woman’s age or identity, and said no further details would be released.

The incidents are alleged to have occurred between March 1 and Sept. 15, 1974. McLaughlin said the reason the charge is “sexual intercourse with a female person without her consent” is because they are using Criminal Code provisions from 1974 when the term sexual assault was not used.

John is to appear in provincial court in Prince George on Dec. 10.