Edmonton authorities have pressed charges against Tsuut’ina Nation’s Chief, Roy Whitney, aged 71, for sexual assault involving two men dating back several years. The initial incident supposedly took place in early 1994, where a 33-year-old man was reportedly assaulted in the vicinity of 178 Street and 87 Avenue in Edmonton. The second alleged assault occurred in the summer of 2005, when a 38-year-old man was purportedly assaulted near Stony Plain Road and 178 Street in Edmonton.
The authorities were first made aware of the 1994 incident in November 2024 and subsequently uncovered the 2005 incident during an investigation initiated in May of this year. Both complainants, hailing from Tsuut’ina Nation, are said to be acquainted with the accused but are unknown to each other.
Whitney was taken into custody by Edmonton police on Wednesday and faces two charges of sexual assault. Despite the allegations, Whitney has strongly refuted the charges, asserting his innocence. His lawyer, Jim Lutz, conveyed that Whitney has fully cooperated with the police inquiry and vehemently denies any criminal involvement with the individuals in question.
In a written statement, Whitney dismissed the allegations as baseless, emphasizing his lifelong commitment to serving the Tsuut’ina people with integrity and dedication. He pledged to defend himself vigorously against the charges and affirmed his unwavering focus on community service and shared priorities.
Acknowledging the unsettling nature of such offenses, Detective Brian McGuigan from the Edmonton Police Service’s Sexual Assault Section encouraged potential additional complainants to come forward and share their experiences. The authorities suspect there may be more victims and urge anyone who believes they have been victimized by the accused to contact them promptly.
Edmonton police disclosed that the Calgary Police Service collaborated in the investigations. Tsuut’ina Nation is situated near the southwest city limits of Calgary.