Tony Humby to face sexual abuse charges during 7-week trial this summer

Tony Humby, 63, and Bruce Escott, 81, right, are pictured during an appearance at provincial court last year. (Ted Dillon/CBC - image credit)
Tony Humby, 63, and Bruce Escott, 81, right, are pictured during an appearance at provincial court last year. (Ted Dillon/CBC - image credit)

A St. John's man accused of sexual offences against young people spanning nearly two decades will go on trial this summer.

Tony Humby, 63, is facing more than 30 charges, including sexual assault, sexual interference and sexual exploitation.

He was arrested last April, and has been in custody since.

Humby appeared by video at provincial court in St. John's Monday, where trial dates were set — seven weeks in total, from the beginning of July through the end of August.

He has pleaded not guilty.

According to court documents, the earliest allegations against Humby date back to 2004. The most recent date to 2022.

Meanwhile, Humby's co-accused is due back in court early next month.

Bruce Escott, 81, is facing more than a dozen charges — one of them an alleged sexual assault that dates all the way back to 1995. No trial dates have been set.

Lawyers have indicated that the matters against Escott could be resolved before getting to trial.

The two men both live on the same street in a trailer park near the airport in St. John's.

Last summer, two months after they were initially charged, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary descended on the neighbourhood with warrants to search their homes.

Altogether, there are a dozen alleged victims, with some of the offences occurring when complainants were under the age of 16.

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