Richard Dyke, who is facing more than 70 charges of sexual offences against minors for incidents that police allege took place during the span of 18 years at home-based daycares in and around Assiniboia, appeared by video from the Regina Correctional Centre in Moose Jaw Provincial Court today, where his case was adjourned to Dec. 16.
Dyke's defence lawyer, Estes Fonkalsrud, confirmed that disclosure in the case was complete. That is a significant step in a case with so many charges, as police must provide the defence with all the evidence they expect to use in advance of any trial, including witness statements, police reports and notes, and copies of any photographs and videos.
Fonkalsrud gave his opinion to Provincial Court Judge Brian Hendrickson that the case warrants a preliminary inquiry and asked for a brief adjournment so that Crown and defence can consider possible options. Preliminary inquiries are used in serious criminal cases to determine whether the evidence assembled by Crown prosecutors is enough to proceed to what could be a lengthy and difficult public trial. An inquiry is not a trial, but evidence is given under oath and the defence is entitled to cross-examine any witnesses the Crown plans to call.
Dyke was originally arrested last November at a home-based daycare in Assiniboia on three counts of sexual assault, three counts of sexual interference, two counts of sexual touching, three counts of making sexually explicit material available to a person under the age of 16, and one count each of voyeurism and possession of child pornography.
At the time, RCMP believed the incidents took place in the mid-2010s involving three male youths under 12 years of age.
In May, the RCMP announced 60 additional charges would be laid against Dyke. The RCMP said they identified 29 additional victims between the ages of 18 months and 17 years, with police saying the offences took place between 2005 and 2023 at home-based daycares.
The charges laid in May included:
- 14 counts of sexual assault
- 14 counts of sexual interference
- Nine counts of voyeurism
- 23 counts of making child pornography