B.C. MLA Jordan Kealy charged with sexual assault in Fort St. John

Kealy says in a statement that he is innocent and won't be resigning

The B.C. Prosecution Service says Independent MLA Jordan Kealy, who represents Peace River North, has been charged with one count of sexual assault in Fort St. John.

The service says the alleged offences occurred between Jan. 1 and Sept. 20, 2024. Court documents indicate the alleged offences took place in Cecil Lake, a rural area where Kealy farms north of Fort St. John.

The prosecution service says a Vancouver-based special prosecutor was assigned to the case on Feb. 9, 2026 to "avoid any potential for real or perceived improper influence in the administration of justice considering the nature of the allegations and the identity of the accused as an elected public official."

In a statement emailed to CBC News, Kealy said he will not be stepping down.

"I am innocent of the accusation against me and will prove that in court. In the meantime, it will be business as usual, advocating for my constituents and region," he wrote.

His constituency office in Fort St. John was closed Thursday morning despite being within its posted opening hours.

Kealy's first court appearance is scheduled for July 6 in Fort St. John.

CBC News has also reached out to the B.C. Conservative Party, as Kealy has indicated he plans to rejoin the party after defecting last year.

A first-time MLA elected under John Rustad, he left the B.C. Conservatives on March 7, 2025, alongside Tara Armstrong, after Dallas Brodie was removed from caucus. He said the party had become "toxic."

Support for new B.C. Conservative leader

Unlike Armstrong and Brodie, he did not join any other parties and instead continued and continues to sit as an Independent, though has suggested that could soon change under its new leader, Kerry-Lynne Findlay.

He hosted a townhall for her in his constituency during the Conservative leadership campaign and posted a photo of himself with her when she was elected on May 30, saying he had attended the party convention after his flight home to Fort St. John was canceled due to weather delays.

“What a day,” he wrote in the post. “This might just be the end of me being an independent and coming back to the party! More to come.”

2nd MLA elected under Conservative banner to be charged

Kealy is the second MLA elected under the B.C. Conservative banner in 2024 who has since been charged with assault. In March of this year, Richmond Centre MLA Hon Chan was kicked out of caucus after being charged with assault and choking.

He is also the second MLA for Peace River North to be charged with assault in the past decade. Pat Pimm, who represented the region for the B.C. Liberals from 2009 until 2016 was charged in 2016, and the charges were stayed in 2017.

The terms of the stay included having "no direct or indirect contact" with the complainant.

Pimm stepped down from the party caucus ahead of the allegations being made public, and did not run for re-election.

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With files from Lauren Vanderdeen and Matt Preprost