Burnt Church man held in sex assault

RCMP have chargeda man from theEskinuopitijk First Nation in asexual assault alleged to have occurredover the weekend at a house that policewereinvestigating last week.

RCMP in Neguac, N.B. said the alleged assault occurred Sunday at theFirst Nationcommonly known as Burnt Church.

The 29-year-old suspect, whose name has not been released, was arrested Monday and transferred to the Tracadie-Sheila RCMP detachment. He was to remainthere until an appearancein Miramichi provincial court for a bail hearing.

RCMP Insp. Roch Fortin said the alleged victim is a 17-year-old girl. No other details were released.

RCMP search house

The RCMP had officers and forensic investigatorsworking Monday atthehouse on the Eskinuopitijk First Nation where the alleged sexual assault occurred. Police were at the same house as part of a criminal investigation last week.

Police would not comment on the nature of the earlier investigation oron evidence seized at the house. Nor would they connect the search to the disappearance of Hilary Bonnell, 16, who vanished from the northeastern community two months ago.