Belleville police are commenting on the result of a historical sexual assault case.
On Thursday morning, in a Belleville courtroom, William James Dale, 47, of Keswick pleaded guilty to sexual assault and assault.
He has been in pre-trial custody for the past five months and was given credit for seven-and-a-half months on the sentence, so he will spend another 12 years, four-and-a-half months in jail.
The case was able to be solved thanks to the use of Investigative Genetic Genealogy.
It is an expensive and labour-intensive exercise with police having to apply to the provincial government to help pay for the specialized expertise necessary to complete the complex and time-consuming investigation.
“This outcome reflects the sustained efforts of Belleville Police Service detectives and forensic officers who remained committed to the investigation over many years,” Belleville police say in the release.
“The case has involved numerous members of the service—both sworn and civilian—and its resolution is a testament to their dedication and professionalism.”
Belleville Police Chief Murray Rodd commented on the result in the release.
“This result speaks to the perseverance of our investigative team and the importance of continuing to pursue justice, no matter how much time has passed,” said Chief Rodd in the release.
“We hope this outcome provides a degree of comfort to the victim and encouragement and hope to other victims who continue to wait for justice.”
Police say out of respect for the legal process, additional details will be shared in a press conference at the end of the appeals process.
That process is expected to end in approximately 30 days.
