Peace River North MLA to face jury in sexual assault case

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Flanked by supporters, Peace River North MLA Jordan Kealy made his first court appearance on sexual assault charges.

Kealy was charged with one count of sexual assault in early June, for alleged offences which occurred on a pair of occasions in 2024 in Fort St. John, according to the BC Prosecution Service (BCPS).

The accuser’s identity is protected under a publication ban. Kealy sat in the back of the courtroom, dressed in a black suit and tie, while supporters flooded out of the courtroom.

His counsel, Richard Gibbs, appeared via Zoom and requested a trial by judge and jury, which was granted.  

Kealy’s next appearance is scheduled for Monday, August 10.

“I’m not held up from making progress in this matter by anything to do with disclosure,” said Gibbs. “What I would like to do is to waive the formal reading of the charge, waive the formal putting of the election, and ask that an election of judge and jury be entered.”

Outside, Kealy spoke to reporters. He issued a brief statement, saying the matter in Fort St. John provincial court on Monday, July 6, is the “very first court appearance” he has ever had to attend.

Despite the charges, Kealy said he is “going to continue to do his job,” and his life’s purpose was “to help people.”

“I’m innocent until proven guilty,” said Kealy. “I’m not guilty…sometimes you can’t always make everybody happy, and now I’m in the scenario where I’m having to go to court to prove that I’m innocent.”

“It is going to be a judge and jury, and we will see what the next steps are going to look like. But I look forward to being able to actually prove myself innocent in court, and then hopefully my life can get back to normal.”

Kealy added what he has had to deal with since the charges were laid in June, saying his reputation has been “smeared all across the province,” and even his family, including a surgery for his wife abroad, has been affected.

“What is really difficult is the money that my wife and I were saving for surgery for her neck is now having to go and pay for a lawyer,” said Kealy. 

“I don’t care if people come after me… this now leads to where my wife is actually affected by this as well. It hasn’t been easy. I’m going to prove that I’m innocent, and I’m looking forward to just trying to get back to regular life.”

Kealy’s next court appearance is scheduled for Monday, August 10, at 10 a.m. in Fort St. John provincial court.