Wanted man found and charged with sexual assault

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A 43-year-old man has been charged with several alleged crimes, including sexual assault.

On July 17th, Fort St. John RCMP media relations officer Constable Christiaan Dreyer said Ralph Junior Achla, born in 1982, has been arrested and charged.

A wanted appeal was issued for Achla on July 15th, saying he was known to frequent Fort St. John and Halfway River First Nation.

The 43-year-old has now been found and charged with uttering threats, obstruction of a peace officer, two counts of sexual assault, impaired operation of a conveyance and impaired operation of a conveyance over .08.

According to the Criminal Code of Canada, conveyance is defined as a motor vehicle, a vessel, an aircraft or railway equipment.

The sexual assault is alleged to have taken place in 2017. 

According to BC Court Services, Achla appeared at Williams Lake Law Courts on July 17th.

He is also scheduled to appear in the Fort St. John Law Courts on July 21st for an arraignment hearing. 

“The RCMP thanks the media and public for their assistance,” said Dreyer.

 Anyone with information related to this matter should contact the Fort St. John RCMP at 250-787-8100.