Police in Winnipeg have charged a 57-year-old man with a number of offences after two survivors of sexual assault came forward in June of this year.

Constable Dani McKinnon of the Winnipeg Police Services says that the two people came forward independently and police executed a search warrant in the man's home following their claims.

The assaults were reported to have occurred between 1993-1995 while (the survivors) were players in the Assiniboine Park Hockey Association and coached by Robert “Bob” Donald Joseph Dawson of Winnipeg.

The two individuals both reported that while they were in their early teens at the time, they had been sexually assaulted by an adult male who coached their team.

The survivors allege that they were separately invited to the suspect’s residence where he lived at the time, where they were provided money and alcohol and subsequently sexually assaulted. They further reported that the incidents had been photographed and videotaped at the time. 

The WPS says that their findings after executing the search warrant at a residence in the first 100 block of Lake Park Drive were enough to justify laying the charges. Dawson was taken into custody when the warrant was executed. He is facing two counts of sexual interference, two counts of sexual exploitation, two counts of sexual assault, two counts of forcible confinement, two counts of making child pornography, as well as possession of child pornography.

In a press conference, Thursday afternoon Const. McKinnon says that the charges laid are related only to the two individuals who came forward. McKinnon says that it is possible that there are other victims at this time, but no other victims have come forward as of yet.

McKinnon could not say if Dawson was still an active hockey coach at the time of his arrest.

This investigation is continuing by members of the Sex Crimes Unit. Anyone with information or who wishes to speak to investigators is asked to call the Sex Crimes Unit at 204-986-6245 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

The allegations have not been proven in court.