Ontario sex assault investigation inspired by allegations made in Victoria
After numerous women came forward telling their stories of allegedly being sexually assaulted by Jesse Chiavaroli, a bartender at the now closed Chuck’s Burger Bar in Victoria, he now faces six charges of sexual assault in Hamilton, Ontario.
"The offence dates span between 2015 and 2018," said acting Det-Sgt. Candace Culp of the Hamilton Police Service.
Police say media coverage of the Victoria allegations had women coming forward in Hamilton with their own allegations of sexualized violence.
"The investigation started in February 2021, although there were two reported incidents dating back to 2016 that were reported at the time but did not result in charges," said Culp.
Those two cases have been reopened and are part of the current six charges.
"When we first heard the news of the arrest, our thoughts were immediately with the survivors," said Carissa Ropponen, resource development and communications manager at the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre.
"Think about how they must be feeling at the moment," she said.
The separate allegations in Victoria that led to the shutdown of Chuck’s Burger Bar started on the Survivor Stories Project Instagram account. That allowed many survivors to anonymously tell their very personal and painful stories.
"We imagine that they are feeling the beginning of a sense of justice, a sense of relief, of validation and hope," said Ropponen.
That Instagram account is being credited with starting an important conversation which in turn led to Chiavaroli’s arrest.
"I think one of the things that happens here is that survivors don’t suffer in silence," said Dr. Janni Aragon, director of the technology and society program at the University of Victoria. "They are able to find community, share their stories and get on the path to heal."
Chiavaroli has not been charged in connection with any of the allegations made in Victoria. None of the allegations in Victoria or Ontario have been tested or proven in court.
Chiavaroli is currently out on bail and will appear in a Hamilton courtroom on July 19.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.