Hamilton man charged in 2022, 2023 sexual assaults after extradition from U.S.

WARNING: This article contains details of sexual assault and may affect those who have experienced​ ​​​it or know someone affected by it. 

A 22-year-old Hamilton man who was recently extradited from the U.S. to Canada has been charged with two sexual assaults.

Police said the accused, Leikeze Cheruiyot, had been living in the United States for over a year and was extradited back to Hamilton, where he had a bail hearing Wednesday. He remains in custody, Hamilton police said at a news conference on Thursday.

Police said Cheruiyot grew up in Hamilton and attended high school in the Ontario city. He faces multiple charges, including aggravated sexual assault for an attack on a trail in 2022 as well as one during a home invasion in 2023. 

The two survivors were "relieved" to learn of the arrest, Hamilton Police Service said. 

"This was a very difficult investigation,very long, but we're very happy to stand here today to hold somebody accountable for their actions," Det. Sgt. Jen Currie of the sex crimes unit said Thursday.

The July 2022 attack was near a trail on the city's west Mountain. A 56-year-old woman was on a trail near Upper Paradise Road and Donnici Drive, near William Schwenger Park, when a man dragged her off the path and into the woods.

Hamilton police said she was gagged and her assailant bound her wrists behind her back before assaulting her. He was caught by people walking nearby and fled. 

Shortly after fleeing, the individual was seen on surveillance video, which captured a very clear image of him running, wearing a mask. Police distributed the video widely as part of their investigation, but it did not lead anyone to identify the man to them — something that surprised investigators, Currie said.

"We put this out several times … hoping somebody would recognize him," she said.

Currie said he appeared to be a teenager or in his early twenties, so police believed he could have attended a local high school and worked with school boards to try to identify him.

The incident focused attention on the safety of city trails, especially for women. Several other assaults have also been reported on Hamilton trails in recent years. 

The second attack was in August, 2023, when a 74-year-old woman woke up to find a man in her West Mountain home. 

"The male assaulted the victim for over an hour before leaving the residence on foot," said Currie.