Gilbert Rozon charged with rape and indecent assault

The charges come 14 months after Rozon stepped down from his role as president of Just for Laughs Group following allegations of criminal behaviour.

Just For Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon has been charged with rape and indecent assault by Quebec prosecutors.

The charges relate to the allegations of a single, unnamed complainant for an incident that occurred in 1979. Quebec’s director of criminal and penal prosecutions (DCPC) made the announcement about the rape and indecent assault charges in a statement Wednesday.

The complaint was one of 14 investigated by the DCPC. The prosecution said that criminal complaints from 13 others will not result in charges.

Rozon will appear in court Jan. 22.

The charges come 14 months after Rozon stepped down from his role as president of Just For Laughs Group amid allegations of sexual harassment and abuse. He also sold his shares in the company, with comedian Howie Mandel, L.A.-based talent agency ICM Partners and Bell Media later partnering to acquire Just For Laughs Group. Rozon also stepped down from his role of VP of the Montreal Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal when allegations first emerged last fall.

Separately, Rozon is facing a $10-million class-action lawsuit that was authorized by a Quebec judge in August. A group 20 women calling themselves Les Courageuses allege that Rozon sexually assaulted them in incidents spanning more than two decades.