The mayor of Woodstock, Ont. is facing several criminal assault charges. Trevor Birtch, 46, was charged last week with assult, sexual assult, and sexual assult with choking.
The allegations against Birtch all involve the same women as the charges allegedly occurred over a period of ten months, beginning last year.
According to court documents, Birtch is accused of sexually assaulting the victim on Feb. 14, 2021. He is also accused of assaulting her sometime between June 1 and Sept. 30, 2021, and is accused of sexually assulting her with choking between Dec. 10 and 13, 2021.
The victim, as well as two other women, filed a restraining order when the mayor was charged on Feb. 3, 2022. Birtch has not publicly commented about the case and is scheduled to make his first court appearance on May 2.
While forced to leave his position on the police services board, Birtch will remain in his role as mayor with the support of city council.
Connie Lauder, deputy mayor of Woodstock released a statement at a special council meeting on Feb. 3, saying that “City Council reiterates that this is a matter for Mayor Birtch to respond to through the court proceedings. Under our system of justice an accused receives the benefit of doubt unless and until convicted.”
She was unable to comment further.
Mayor of Woodstock, Trevor Birtch, proclaiming the start of ZONTA 16 Days of Activism against gender based violence on Nov. 25, 2021 [XFM/AMY SIMON]
Under the Ontario Municipal Act, politicians facing criminal charges can stay in office even upon conviction. Only through a jail sentence can a politician be removed from office.
The Ontario Civilian Police Services Commission has been called to investigate Birtch’s conduct.
