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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Sheriff's officers charged again

-- Three more women allege assaults -- Couple fighting online sex-tape case

By: Aldo Santin

Posted: 02/8/2013 1:00 AM

Three more women allege they were sexually assaulted by two sheriff's officers who face criminal charges and are embroiled in a sex-tape lawsuit.

Winnipeg police said they've laid additional charges against the two accused following an investigation that dates back to November.

The alleged victims came forward days after Richard Robert Gordon, 45, and Jackie Erin Burgoyne, 34, were charged in late October with allegedly drugging, confining and sexually assaulting a 30-year-old woman.

The October charges involve an alleged attack in April 2012.

Police spokesman Const. Eric Hofley said the three women came forward during a 30-day period between November and December. They allege they were invited to a home shared by Gordon and Burgoyne, where they were overcome with a "stupefying substance," forcibly confined and sexually assaulted.

Hofley called the alleged attacks "historical," adding some had taken place a while ago and some were more recent.

He could not explain why the three most recent victims came forward when they did.

"Often, when victims come forward, someone else may look at that and go, 'That happened to me, too.' They may feel more comfortable knowing others have come forward. It might give them the courage to come forward with their allegations as well."

Burgoyne is now charged with three counts of sexual assault, two counts of forcible confinement and three counts of administering a stupefying substance to overcome resistance to sexual assault.

Gordon faces the same charges plus a fourth charge of sexual assault. It's alleged one of the victims was assaulted twice.

Gordon and Burgoyne were released according to terms of a recognizance order.

Hofley said it's possible more charges could be laid if other victims contact police.

Gordon and Burgoyne could not be reached for comment.

The couple has been involved in a six-year civil dispute over their appearance in an online video that showed them in consensual sex acts with another woman.

A website featured an explicit 45-second clip of Gordon and Burgoyne, who have been living common-law for several years, and encouraged visitors to purchase a membership to view the entire 40-minute video.

Court documents reveal Gordon and Bourgoyne admit they met the woman and her husband in a Winnipeg bar during Grey Cup week in November 2006. The sheriff's officers said they agreed to be taped privately for their own viewing pleasure.

The other couple alleges Gordon and Bourgoyne willingly agreed to be recorded in a sexual romp for the viewing pleasure of others, stating the officers signed consent forms acknowledging their participation in "adult photo/video production for commercial purposes."

Justice officials suspended Gordon and Burgoyne without pay in December 2006 when they learned of the video but the two got their jobs back in early 2007.

A civil judge ordered a temporary injunction in April 2007 removing the Gordon-Burgoyne video from the website.

The case was to have gone to trial in 2010, but was delayed. No new court dates have been set. Another judge was appointed to mediate the dispute.

The civil lawyer for Gordon and Burgoyne did not return calls.

A Justice Department spokesman would not comment on the couple's employment status with the Manitoba sheriff's office, stating it's an internal, confidential matter.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 8, 2013 A3