Yarmouth County RCMP received a tip about a historic sexual assault that took place in the region in the early 2000s in June of this year.
That prompted them to launch an investigation which we are now learning has resulted in charges being laid.
The report alleges that a sexual assault occurred between the fall of 2001 and the summer of 2002 in Yarmouth when the victim was 14 years old.
Following the investigation which was conducted by Yarmouth County RCMP and with assistance from RCMP/HRP Sexual Assault Investigation Team 51-year-old Mark Alexander Thornton was arrested.
Thorton now faces charges of Sexual Assault and Sexual Exploitation. He appeared in Yarmouth Provincial Court following his arrest on July 26 but has since been released.
Thorton is due to return to Yarmouth Provincial Court on October 11.
RCMP believe there may be other victims and encourage them to come forward. RCMP want victims to know that they can contact them and discuss an incident before making a decision to further participate in the investigation and court process. The Yarmouth Town RCMP can be contacted at 902-742-8777.