Manitoba RCMP Arrest Former Priest in Regina for Historic Sexual Assault

Officers from the RCMP unit in Russell, Manitoba, arrested an 81-year-old former priest in Regina on suspicion of sexual abuse since 1970.

On June 13, Constantin Turcoane turned himself in to police to answer for an alleged sexual assault that occurred while he was a priest at a church in Lennard, Manitoba, according to a Saskatchewan RCMP news release issued Thursday.

According to police, a woman in her 60s reported the attack to the Russell department in March. She told officers she had been sexually abused by Turcoane multiple times over the course of two years while she was a parishioner at St. Elijah Romanian Orthodox Church.

At the time of the attacks, she was 11 and 12 years old, the RCMP said.

According to the RCMP, investigators have taken statements from several individuals, searched historical church archives and contacted “church-related organizations to obtain additional investigative materials.”

“An arrest warrant was issued for Turcoane for rape (1970) and sexual intercourse under the age of 14 (1970),” police said.

Turcoane turned himself in to police and has since been released.

Investigators believe there may be more survivors. They are asking anyone with information to call the Russell RCMP detachment.