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GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta., — A 32-year-old Grande Prairie man is facing multiple sexual assault charges following a string of incidents involving victims as young as 12, with one of the victims picked up from Lloydminster, a city straddling the Saskatchewan – Alberta border.
Joseph Kidd is currently in custody and is scheduled to appear in court on July 2.
The investigations into Kidd’s alleged offences span three provinces.
On May 10, police responded to a 911 call at Kidd’s home, where they determined he had driven to Lloydminster to pick up an 18-year-old woman. According to police, Kidd assaulted the victim when she refused to engage in sexual acts with him. He was charged with assault, sexual assault, assault while choking, and three counts of failing to comply with release conditions.
Disturbing pattern of offending
Kidd was first arrested on April 17, after a 14-year-old victim from British Columbia went to the RCMP detachment to report a sexual assault. Police say Kidd met the victim via social media, drove to B.C. to pick her up, and brought her back to his Grande Prairie home, where she was held for approximately one week. The victim was able to escape after Kidd left for work. Kidd was charged with sexual assault, sexual interference, forcible confinement, assault while choking, and unsafe storage of a firearm.
Despite being initially remanded in custody on April 20, Kidd was released on April 30 by a judge on several conditions.
He was arrested again on May 10 in connection with the Lloydminster incident. But he was again released by a judge on June 1, this time on a $7,500 cash bail to attend Alberta Court of Justice in Grande Prairie on June 22.
On June 18, a 15-year-old female went to the Grande Prairie RCMP detachment and reported that Kidd had been following her around. She said that he offered her alcohol if she got into his vehicle. On one occasion she got into his vehicle, and he drove them to his residence, where she was sexually assaulted before leaving. There were multiple incidents which occurred between June 4 and 18.
He was charged with criminal harassment, sexual interference, sexual assault, and failing to comply with release conditions.
That same day, police received a 911 call from the mother of a 12-year-old girl reporting that a man driving a yellow Chevrolet Camaro convertible had attempted to lure her child into the vehicle. Kidd was charged with abduction of a person under the age of 14 and failing to comply with release conditions. He was remanded following a judicial release hearing and remains in custody ahead of his July 2 court appearance.
May be more victims: RCMP
During a press conference on June 25, Grande Prairie RCMP said Kidd used social media to contact his victims and are concerned there may be others who haven’t come forward.
“We are bringing the information public today to provide that piece to the public in case there are other victims out there that previously may have been uncomfortable coming forward,” said Supt. Mark McDougall, officer in charge of Grand Prairie RCMP. “We stand united together to ensure we support those victims and help them through any court processes.”
If you believe you are a victim of Kidd, or have any information regarding any of these incidents, please contact Grande Prairie RCMP at 780-830-5700 or 5701. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or online, or by using the "P3 Tips" app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.
