Hamilton man charged in 2022, 2023 sexual assaults after extradition from U.S.
A 22-year-old man from Hamilton who had been living in the United States for over a year has been charged with two counts of sexual assault, including aggravated sexual assault and break and enter to commit sexual assault. The accused, Leikeze Cheruiyot, was recently extradited back to Canada and had a bail hearing on Wednesday.
According to Hamilton police, Cheruiyot grew up in Hamilton and attended high school in the city. The charges against him stem from two separate incidents – one on a trail in 2022 and a home invasion in 2023. The survivors of these assaults were said to be “relieved” upon learning of the arrest, according to the Hamilton Police Service.
In the July 2022 attack, a 56-year-old woman was dragged off a trail near Upper Paradise Road and Donnici Drive by a man who then assaulted her. The assailant was caught by passersby and fled the scene. The second attack took place in August 2023, when a 74-year-old woman woke up to find a man in her home on the West Mountain. The man assaulted her for over an hour before leaving.
Forensic evidence linked the two attacks, leading to the positive identification of Cheruiyot in January. He was located in the U.S. and extradited back to Canada in October. In addition to the sexual assault charges, Cheruiyot also faces charges of forcible confinement, aggravated assault, and other offenses.
Hamilton police expressed gratitude to their U.S. counterparts for their assistance in locating and extraditing Cheruiyot. The accused had been living and working in various locations in the U.S. after leaving Canada in September 2023. Court records from Virginia show that he faced multiple charges in the U.S., including trespassing, simulated masturbation, and indecent exposure.
Insp. Andrea Torrie of Hamilton police’s victims of crime unit stated that they are still investigating to determine if Cheruiyot is connected to any other crimes in the area. She emphasized the extensive effort that went into locating and apprehending the suspect, acknowledging the resilience of the survivors involved.
The arrest of Cheruiyot has brought a mix of emotions for those impacted by the assaults, according to Miranda Jurilj of SACHA, a Hamilton-based sexual assault center. While some may feel relief and a sense of closure, others may experience retraumatization and concerns about the justice process. Victims of sexual assault are encouraged to seek support from organizations like SACHA, which offers a 24-hour support line.
In response to the incidents, a safety group for women using Hamilton’s trails, called the Women’s Walking Group of Hamilton, has called for increased police presence to prevent future assaults. Despite police claims of regular patrols on trails, some community members feel that more can be done to ensure the safety of trail users.
