Lethbridge man charged with assaulting two young girls, aged 10 and 12

Nicholas Tilbe, 30, faces four counts of sexual interference and one count of sexual assault involving two girls known to him as a family friend.

Lethbridge family friend charged with sexual assault of two children

A 30-year-old Lethbridge man has been charged with multiple counts of sexual assault and sexual interference after the Lethbridge Police Service received reports involving two young girls, Global News Crime reports.

Police launched their investigation on July 18, following a report that a 12-year-old girl had disclosed to a friend that she had been sexually assaulted on several occasions by a man she knew. The girl described three separate incidents that took place between June 2024 and May of this year.

As the investigation progressed, officers identified a second victim — a 10-year-old girl who reported having been sexually assaulted by the same individual the previous summer.

In both cases, police said the accused was a family friend who had regular contact with the children.

Nicholas Tilbe, 30, of Lethbridge, has been charged with four counts of sexual interference and one count of sexual assault. Sexual interference charges apply when an accused is alleged to have touched a person under the age of consent — 16 years old in Canada — for a sexual purpose.

Tilbe is scheduled to appear in court on September 8 in connection with the second investigation, and on September 22 for the first.

He was released from custody under a series of conditions. These include a complete prohibition on contact with either victim or any child under the age of 16, as well as a ban on attending public pools, schools and school grounds, daycares, playgrounds, youth shelters, and libraries unless accompanied by an adult family member. He is also barred from holding volunteer positions or employment that would place him in a position of trust or authority over a minor.

Survivors seeking support can contact Alberta's ONE LiNE for Sexual Violence, a toll-free talk and text service available at 1-866-403-8000, as well as online chat. Support is available seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. MST, with interpretation services in more than 200 languages.

Source: Global News Crime