By Barry Ellsworth
TRENTON, Canada (AA) - A Coptic Church priest has been charged with sexual assault of a minor, police just outside of Toronto said Wednesday.
The charges were filed Feb. 26. They include sexual assault and sexual interference, and were filed against Michelle Sharif, 47, a Coptic Priest from East Gwillimbury, a town of 47,000 30 minutes north of Toronto.
“The investigation began in November 2025 when the victim came forward to report they had been sexually assaulted by the suspect on two occasions between 1996 and 1999,” York Regional Police said in a statement. “At the time of the assault, the victim was under the age of 16.”
Investigators believe there may be additional victims. The suspect’s photo was released to encourage others to come forward.
“A sexual assault includes any non-consensual contact of a sexual nature,” said police. “York Regional Police would like to encourage anyone who feels they may have been a victim of a sexual assault to come forward and report the incident to police.
“There is no statute of limitations for sexual offences and offenders can be prosecuted well after the date of the offence," it said.