Dartmouth man charged with sexually assaulting girl 17 years ago

Halifax Regional Police have charged a 64-year-old Dartmouth man, Marcel C. Maessen, with sexual assault and sexual interference for an alleged assault of a girl who was just 10 or 11 at the time.

Maessencoached youth basketball with the Dartmouth Lakers, but police said the charges are not related to that volunteer work, or Maessen's employment.

Police received acomplaint in late March 2018 about alleged incidents that occurred in Dartmouth between September 2000 and June 2001.

The complainant and the accused knoweach other.

Former basketball coach

Maessenwas listed as a coach with theDartmouth Lakers Basketball Club when the charges were laid, but theclub'spresident told CBC News he has since"resigned in every capacity."

"We are aware of the charges laid against Marcel Maessen," wroteSusan Koivu in an email."They concern events from 17 years ago and to the best [of] my knowledge the charges against Mr. Maessen are in no way connected with his role with the DLBC."

Koivu said she's notaware of any complaints that were made to the board involving inappropriate conduct fromMaessen.

Court date is June 5

Const. Carol MacIsaac, spokesperson for Halifax police, said it's not unusual that historic sexual assault complaints are made.

"They get to the point in their life where they're prepared to talk about it and they want to go forward with the court process," said MacIsaac. "When they get to that point in their lives then we encourage them to come to us and we will do the investigation."

Maessenhas been released from custody on a promise to appear in court on June 5.

He is under conditions to stay away from the complainant, and witnesses, and from children under 16.

MacIsaacsaid this is the only investigation involving Maessen.She urgedanyone with information about the case to come forward.