2 former Manitoba sheriffs face pre-trial on alleged sex assaults

Two former Manitoba sheriff's officers are facing a hearing to determine if they should be tried for multiple sexual assault charges.

Richard Robert Gordon and Jackie Erin Burgoyne are charged with several counts of sexual assault as well as administering a "stupefying substance" to overcome resistance to a sexual assault.

A pre-trial hearing is held to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed to a full trial. A publication ban prevents any of the hearing from being reported.

• Pair of sheriff's officers accused of sexual assault

Police originally announced charges involving a single victim in October 2012. A woman claimed she had met a couple in May of that year and went to a residence where she was allegedly drugged, causing her to pass out.

Police said the woman claims when she woke up, she discovered she had been sexually assaulted.

Once her story was reported in the media, three more women came to police with the same allegations.

Sex-tape scandal

In 2007, Gordon and Burgoyne also made headlines when they were temporarily suspended from their jobs by the Manitoba Justice Department after a sex tape they made with an adult entertainer showed up on the internet.

• Officers' sex video to remain off-line

The officers went to court to have the video removed, claiming they were too intoxicated to understand the consent form they signed.