Sexual assault charges against self-described spiritual leader John de Ruiter and his wife, Leigh Ann de Ruiter, have been stayed by the Crown Prosecution Service. The couple, based in the Edmonton area, each faced six counts of sexual assault.
The charges, which were first announced by Alberta RCMP in October 2023, stemmed from alleged incidents involving multiple adult complainants. The trial was scheduled to begin in September 2025.
In a statement, Alberta Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson Michelle Davio confirmed the stay of proceedings, citing that "the Crown determined there was no longer a reasonable likelihood of conviction." The decision means the charges are halted but can be revived within one year.
John de Ruiter leads a group known as the College of Integrated Philosophy. Through his lawyer, he has previously denied the allegations. The stay of proceedings is not an acquittal or a finding of innocence.
