Founder of Sudbury pizza franchise charged with sexual assault, exploitation
An 84-year-old Sudbury man has been accused of sexually assaulting a young person in 1989 and police are concerned there may be other survivors.
A complaint was received in January about an alleged sexual assault that happened more than 30 years ago involving Ronald Toppazzini and a person under the age of 16 at the time of the incident, Greater Sudbury Police Service said in a news release Friday morning.
CTV News has confirmed the accused is the founder of the popular pizza franchise Topper's Pizza.
Toppazzini started the pizza company in 1982 and it now has 37 locations throughout Ontario.
He has had no involvement with Topper's Pizza for more than 25 years, Holly Ashby, the director of marketing for Topper's Pizza Canada, told CTV News in a statement.
"We respect the families’ privacy at this time and will be making no further media statements," Ashby said.
He was charged May 5 with sexual assault and exploitation, police said.
Toppazzini was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court July 13.
"Due to the sensitive nature of the incident and in order to protect the survivor’s identity, no further details will be provided," police said.
"If you have any information related to this incident or this individual, you are asked to contact Det. Const. Duchene at 705-675-9171 extension 2301."
Survivors of sexual assault are not alone and there is support and several reporting options available.
Police define sexual assault as any unwanted sexual contact. It includes unwanted touching, kissing, hugging, molestation, rape or attempted rape. It can happen to you once, more than once or over many years.
"In the case of an emergency, if you are in danger or need medical assistance or if the incident just took place/the person responsible is nearby, please call 911 immediately. If you are reporting a sexual assault after the fact and you do not believe that you require immediate assistance, you can call us at 705-675-9171 or you can report it online," police said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.