CBC Lite
   Sections

News • Canada • Edmonton

Sexual assault charges stayed against Alberta spiritual leader, wife

   Daniela Germano
   | The Canadian Press | Posted: April 17, 2026 5:27 PM | Last
   Updated: 3 hours ago

   John de Ruiter and his wife, Leigh Ann, faced 6 charges each of
   sexual assault

   Image | john de ruiter

   Caption: College of Integrated Philosophy leader John de Ruiter
   has been charged with four counts of sexual assault.
   (johnderuiter.com)
   (BUTTON) Load image
   Open image in new tab
   Sexual assault charges against a self-styled spiritual leader
   and his wife in the Edmonton area have been stayed.
   Johannes (John) de Ruiter and his wife, Leigh Ann, faced six
   charges each of sexual assault and were slated to go to trial
   in September.
   Police have said John de Ruiter is the leader of a group known
   as the College of Integrated Philosophy or the Oasis Group.
   Investigators alleged he told female members that he was
   directed by a spirit to engage in sexual activity with them and
   doing so would give them the opportunity to achieve spiritual
   enlightenment.
     * Wife of Edmonton spiritual leader charged with three counts
       of sexual assault

     * Edmonton spiritual leader charged with 4 counts of sexual
       assault

   When the couple was initially charged in 2023, authorities
   didn't elaborate on the allegations against Leigh Ann de
   Ruiter.
   The Alberta Crown Prosecution Service says it conducted a
   thorough review of the file and determined it was unable to
   proceed with the charges.
   "The Alberta Crown Prosecution Service would like to thank the
   individuals who came forward to provide their accounts of the
   alleged offences," spokeswoman Michelle Davio said in a
   statement Friday.
   "We understand the personal and emotional impact this process
   can have, and the disappointment and frustration this outcome
   may cause."
     * Alberta spiritual leader facing 3 more sexual assault
       charges

   Davio said the decision was not made lightly and an internal
   review is underway "to examine what occurred and to help ensure
   that a situation like this does not happen in the future."
   "We understand that it may be deeply unsatisfying for those who
   took part in the process, particularly given the seriousness of
   the allegations," she said.
   "While the [Alberta Crown Prosecution Service] is limited in
   what it can share about internal considerations, we want to be
   clear that this outcome does not diminish the importance of the
   information provided by the complainants or the significance of
   their participation."
   Defence lawyer Dino Bottos, who is representing the de Ruiters,
   is scheduled to hold a news conference Friday at 12:15 p.m.

More Stories Like This

   The related links below are generated automatically based on
   the story you’ve just read.

   Loading...
   CBC Lite is a low-bandwidth website. To see what's new, check
   out our release notes. For high quality images, media,
   comments, and other additional features visit the full version
   of this story.
   We and select advertising partners use trackers to collect some
   of your data in order to enhance your experience and to deliver
   personalized content and advertising. If you are not
   comfortable with the use of this information, please review
   your device and browser privacy settings before continuing your
   visit. Learn more about Online Tracking and Privacy Choices.
     * Corrections and Clarifications
     * Terms of Use
     * Reuse & Permission
     * Privacy
     * Accessibility
     * Contact a Newsroom
     * Submit Feedback
     * Lite Help Centre
     * Jobs
     * RSS

   CBC Lite version: 1.8.15. ©2026 CBC/Radio-Canada. All rights
   reserved.