MOOSE JAW - Assiniboia resident Richard Dyke, who is accused of 60 counts of sexual offences against minors, will continue to remain in custody as the courts find him a lawyer.
Dyke, 47, appeared in Moose Jaw Provincial Court by video on July 31, with defence counsel Estes Fonkalsrud acting on his behalf.
The lawyer told Judge Brian Hendrickson that he has spoken with the Legal Aid of Saskatchewan head office about this situation, with the organization reviewing the file to determine whether it should appoint a Legal Aid lawyer or have Fonkalsrud handle it because of new charges.
Fonkalsrud asked that the matter be adjourned until Wednesday, Aug. 28, with the judge agreeing to the request.
According to previous information, Dyke was initially arrested in November 2023 after the RCMP received a report of sexual assaults involving three boys under the age of 12 around 2015. When first arrested, Dyke was charged with 13 sex-related offences.
Dyke is now facing 60 charges including 14 counts of sexual assault, 14 counts of sexual interference, nine counts of voyeurism, and 23 counts of making child pornography under the Criminal Code. The RCMP said 32 children — some as young as 18 months old — have been identified in an ongoing investigation on the Assiniboia resident.
Police say that Dyke was living at home and his partner was operating a registered daycare at the address when the offences took place.
The General Investigation Section and Internet Child Exploitation units of the RCMP continue to investigate the case to determine whether there are additional victims that have not yet been identified.
People with information pertaining to the case should contact the Moose Jaw RCMP at 306-691-4670 or their nearest detachment. People can also contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at SaskCrimeStoppers.com.
