Charges laid in 39-year-old sexual assault case

Significant advances in forensic technology have aided the Calgary Police Service’s cold case sexual violence investigators with making an arrest in three sexual assaults that occurred nearly 40 years ago.

In February 1984, a teenager was babysitting their younger sibling at home when a man entered the residence in the 6400 block of Centre Street North, sexually assaulted the teenager and then fled the residence. 

In March 1984, a woman and her child were at home in the 2100 block of Seventh Avenue N.W., in the evening. After going to bed, the woman awoke to an unknown man in her bedroom. As she tried to escape, the man forced her into another bedroom where he sexually assaulted her. Before fleeing, the man threatened the victim with physical harm.

In June 1985, a woman was asleep in her residence in the 11200 block of Sixth Street S.W., and awoke to a man covering her face in an attempt to restrict her view of him. He sexually assaulted the victim, alleging he had a knife, then fled the scene.

With the advancement of forensic technology and investigative techniques, these three cases have been determined to be linked.

On Monday, May 1, 2023, the Calgary Police Service’s Sexual Assault Investigations Unit and Cold Case Unit, with the assistance of the Edmonton Police Service, arrested Richard Hubert JONES, 69 of Edmonton. Investigation has revealed JONES has resided in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. He is charged in relation to three offences that occurred in Calgary during 1984 and 1985.

JONES has been charged with the 1984 Criminal Code Offenses of:

·       Two counts of break and enter into a dwelling house and commit sexual assault

·       Two counts of sexual intercourse with a female person who is not his wife, without the female's consent

·       One count of break and enter a dwelling house and commit sexual intercourse with a female under the age of fourteen

·       One count of sexual intercourse with a female person who was not his wife and who was under the age of fourteen, without the female's consent

·       One count of intent to enable or assist himself to commit an indictable offence, did attempt to choke, suffocate, or strangle a female person

JONES has been charged with the 1985 Criminal Code Offenses of:

·       One count of break and enter into a dwelling house and commit sexual assault

·       One count of sexual assault

JONES is scheduled to appear in court in Calgary on Monday, June 12, 2023.

“These are violent and traumatizing crimes perpetrated against people in their own homes, a place everyone should feel safe. We acknowledge the impact these assaults have had on the victims and their families and hope the charges can bring some justice and closure to cases such as these. Even after nearly 40 years, we will not stop investigating cold cases,” says Staff Sergeant Michelle Doyle of the Calgary Police Sexual Assault Investigative Unit.

We encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of sexual assault to contact us, no matter when the incident occurred, at 403-266-1234, or by calling 9-1-1 if they are in immediate danger. There is no statute of limitations on criminal sexual offences in Canada and we encourage anyone who has been a victim of a serious crime to report it, even if many years have passed since the incident.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Calgary Police Service non-emergency line at 403-266-1234, or Detective Allen directly at 403-428-8462. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers through any of the following methods:

TALK: 1-800-222-8477
TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org
APP: P3 Tips

Case # 84009068/85029469/84016427