Former York Region volunteer, Alberta MD charged with historical sexual assaults

NEWS RELEASE
YORK REGIONAL POLICE
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Investigators with the York Regional Police Special Victims Unit – Cold Case Section, have charged an Alberta man in connection with historical sexual assaults that occurred in the late 1980s.

In January 2021, York Regional Police began an investigation after a male victim came forward to report that he had been sexually assaulted as a young child in 1988 and 1989. Through the investigation, a second victim was located, who was sexually assaulted by the same suspect during the same time period.

The accused was identified and a warrant was issued for his arrest. On Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, the accused was taken into custody in York Region.

The accused was known to work for volunteer organizations with children in York Region in the ‘80s. Since 2007, the accused has been residing in Medicine Hat, Alberta and has been working as a family doctor. Investigators want to ensure that there are no further victims and are asking anyone with information to come forward.

Charged: 

• Dr. Ian Gebhardt, 59 of Medicine Hat, Alberta

Charges: 

• Sexual Assault x2 
• Sexual Interference Person Under 14 x2

A sexual assault includes any non-consensual contact of a sexual nature. York Regional Police would like to encourage anyone who feels they may have been a victim of a sexual assault to come forward and report the incident to police. There is no statute of limitations for sexual offences and offenders can be prosecuted well after the date of the offence.

Anyone with information is asked to call the York Regional Police Special Victims Unit – Cold Case Section, at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6000, or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.

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