Vancouver man accused of 4 sex assaults

A former politicial organizer for several Vancouver city councillors and for the federalNDPhas beencharged in connection with the knifepoint sexual assaults offour girls, including a six-year-old,over a 15-year period.

Ibata Noric Hexamer, 42,wasarrested on Dec. 10 and charged with 23 counts involving alleged offences in Delta, Surrey and Vancouver dating back to 1995, Chief Jim Chu said on Monday morning.

The first alleged attack took place against a 13-year-old girl in a stairwellat Lord Nelson School in Vancouver in April 1995, according to police. The second involved two 14-year-old girls in Delta in August 2007.

The third attackwas an alleged sexual assault on a six-year-old girl in Surrey in July 2009, whileHexamerallegedly orderedthe girl's 12-year-old-brother and 15-year-old friend to lie on the ground.

In all three attacks, Hexamer is alleged to have threatened the victims with a knife.

Police said they used DNA evidence found at the three crime scenes to link Hexamer to the attacks.

Hexamer isfacing a total of 23 offences, including several counts of sexual assault, sexual touching, invitation to sexual touching involving a person under 14, unlawful confinement, robbery anduttering threats.

Hexamer, who remains in police custody,has no previous criminal record, said police.

Worked as a political organizer

According to the website of the Coalition of Progressive Electors,Hexamer worked as a personal assistant to lawyer and Vancouver city councillor Tim Louis, as well as councillors Ellen Woodsworth, Tim Stevenson, and Dr. Fred Bass.

In 2005, Hexamer was hired by the Coalition of Progressive Electors as a political organizer, and helped lead the organization into the November 2005 civic election.He also worked on the 2006 federal election campaign as the database manager for the NDP in Vancouver Centre.

The website also saidHexamer runs RhythmNation.ca, a local event production and DJ company.

Chu said the arrest was the result of persistent investigative work by a team led by Det. Dan Murphy and Insp. Bob Usui.

"Anyone who watches police shows on television might get the impression that most crimes can be solved in an hour and justice for the victims is swift and true. But in real life, there's only one real true comparison between the movie cops and the men and women of law enforcement: they don't give up and we don't give up," said Chu.

"Although there will be a lot of focus on the investigation and the suspect that has now been charged, today is really about the victims.On behalf of every investigator involved, I would like to express our admiration for the courage and strength the victims have shown throughout this very long and very trying investigation," said Murphy.