Perth County OPP have laid charges stemming from a historic sexual assault investigation. In a statement, police say the charges stem from an incident that took place in Perth East in 2001. The accused was allegedly in a position of authority and the victim at the time of the alleged assault was a teenager. As a result of the investigation, police arrested and charged Howard Bean, a 72-year-old man from East Zorra-Tavistock with sexual assault on a person under 16 and sexual interference. The accused is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Stratford at a later date to answer to the charges, which have not yet been proven in court. Victims of sexual assault are not alone. If you or someone you know needs support, there are local resources available to help. One agency you can contact is Victim Services of Perth County, you can reach them at (519) 600-4108. If you are in an immediate crisis, dial 9-1-1.
