More charges laid against men accused of dozens of sex crimes involving minors

Tony Humby, left, and Bruce Escott appeared in St. John’s provincial court in June. (Ted Dillon/CBC)

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary has laid new charges against two men already accused of dozens of sex crimes involving minors.

In a news release Thursday, police said an ongoing investigation by the RNC’s child abuse and sexual assault unit has resulted in three new charges have been laid against Anthony Humby, 63: sexual assault, invitation to sexual touching, and sexual interference.

Four new charges have been laid against Bruce Escott, 81: sexual assault, invitation to sexual touching, sexual interference and sexual exploitation.

The new charges — which involve an a new alleged victim, say police — join a list of more than three dozen already laid against the two men.

The initial charges were laid in April, with police adding more charges in June, September and as recently as late October. Thursday’s new charges raise Humby’s total to 32 and Escott’s total to 14, related to 11 people.

Humby and Escott are in custody and were scheduled to appear in court today in relation to the new charges.

The two men lived near each other at the Ann Jeanette trailer park in St. John’s.

CBC News has learned Escott was a retired firefighter and served as the Town of Torbay’s first fire chief, in 1974. He also worked as a taxi driver.

Sources told CBC News this spring that the men were known to take in vulnerable youths who often had nowhere else to go.

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