THUNDER BAY — A former boxing coach with a career spanning more than 30 years is facing sexual assault charges, and investigators believe there are more victims.
During a media conference held Thursday morning at the Thunder Bay Police Service Balmoral headquarters, Det. Sgt. Jason Rybak announced that 62-year-old Jose Antonio Dasousa 'Tony' Pimentel has been charged with two counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual exploitation.
The charges date to incidents as far back as 1995 while Pimentel was a boxing coach in the city and Rybak said the assaults involved victims who were known to him through boxing.
“At this point, there are two charges before the court. I am not going to speak to how many at this point. We are doing our best effort to protect these individuals coming forward,” Rybak said.
“This is a very traumatic experience for them. You can see the date range, the trauma is being brought back from over 30 years ago. We are doing our best to control that they are protected.”
An investigation was first launched by the Major Crimes Unit with the Thunder Bay Police Service in November 2022 after incidents were brought to investigators' attention.
Pimentel was first charged in July 2023 but an additional sexual assault charge was laid on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023 when he turned himself into police.
The victims were adults at the time of the assaults and two individuals have been identified. But Rybak said police believe other victims could be out there.
“I know there is a lot of hurt. It’s going to be hard for some people to come forward and talk about this,” he said. “But just know there is a tremendous amount of support in the community to support victims of sexual assault.”
And given the duration of Pimentel’s career, which included being involved with the national boxing program in Canada, Rybak is also encouraging anyone who may have witnessed an assault or has information that could assist investigators to come forward.
“Right now our investigation is Thunder Bay centred. We know over 30 years people may have been victimized and moved across Canada or the United States,” Rybak said. “So we are making that plea nationally and internationally, so any individual who had contact with him over the last 30 years who have been victimized, we want to hear from you, we want to talk to you, we want to help you navigate this and get you the support you need.”
Pimentel is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday. He was released on bail with conditions.
Anyone who may have been a victim of sexual assault or witnessed an assault involving Pimental is encouraged to contact the Thunder Bay Police Service at 684-1200. Information can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
