York Regional Police said they launched an investigation into the historic sexual assaults in June after a female victim came forward.
The woman told police that between 1987 and 1990 she was sexually assaulted by two suspects. At the time, he was between 13 and 17 years old.
Police say the victim attended the same church as her attackers.
A few weeks after the initial report, a second victim came forward and said she was sexually assaulted by the same male suspect between 1992 and 1993. The second victim was between 13 and 14 years old, police say, and was also a member of the same church as the suspect.
On July 12, the police arrested two people. They have been identified as Grimsby residents Raymond and Sandra Swash.
Raymond Swash faces multiple charges in connection with the investigation, including four counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual exploitation of a young person, sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 14, sexual intercourse with a person between the ages of 14 and 15.
Sandra Swash was charged with sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a young person.
The charges have not been proven in court.
Police say both suspects were members of Banfield Memorial Church in North York. Raymond Swash held a position as a youth pastor and youth leader in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
“Investigators believe the two defendants may have been involved with multiple church groups in York, Hamilton and Niagara Region and possibly other jurisdictions around Ontario,” police said in a news release issued Thursday.
Investigators are urging any additional victims or witnesses to contact police or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously.
In the press release, police issued a reminder that there is no statute of limitations for sex offenses.
