Tippett kept in jail for bail hearing

PETERBOROUGH -- Stanley Tippett appeared in a Peterborough courtroom Thursday, clad in an orange prison jumpsuit, and mouthed "I love you" over and over to his wife of 12 years, Natalie.

It was the last chance he had to talk to her before she became part of a list of potential witnesses he is under court order not to communicate with.

Mr. Tippett is charged with sexual assault and kidnapping after a 12-year-old girl was found near Courtice Secondary School early Wednesday morning.

The situation unfolded at about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, when the victim left a birthday party in Peterborough. About an hour later residents near the Courtice school called police after hearing screams.

A publication ban is now in place to ensure the 12-year-old alleged victim is not identified.

For the most part, Mr. Tippett sat, handcuffed and head bowed, during his brief appearance. He replied in a soft voice to the few questions asked by the judge.

He's to appear back in Peterborough court Monday for a bail hearing.

Mr. Tippett's mother, Susan Anderson, was on hand for the court proceedings, and said her son told her he was held at gunpoint during the incident.

If her son is guilty, Ms. Anderson said she hopes "they throw him in jail and throw away the key, we have to protect the children."

Mr. Tippett's wife and a friend of his fiance also both showed up to see him at his court appearance Thursday.

His wife, who revealed she has five children with the accused, said she was "very devastated" when she learned of the charges, but loves her husband and will stand by him if she can. The friend of Mr. Tippett's fiance said the 28-year-old woman is expecting a child with him.

Ms. Tippett, who's been married to Mr. Tippett for 12 years, said her husband told her in a telephone call that he was taken at gunpoint.

Police asked her about the call after Mr. Tippett's arrest.

"He said that he was held at gunpoint and he was thrown in the van, his van got stolen, they went on a highway pursuit," Ms. Tippett said. "They threw him out of the van and he blacked out and he was walking along the railway tracks in Bowmanville."

Margaret Cassidy was also at the court for Mr. Tippett's appearance. She said her friend, a 28-year-old woman, is engaged to Mr. Tippett.

"He's engaged to my friend Felicia," she responded when asked how she knows Mr. Tippett. "He's engaged to her and he's married. That, I just found out... that the wife he has isn't his sister and that's what he's been telling us."

Ms. Cassidy said Mr. Tippett told his fiance that he was carjacked. She said she's told her friend not to come to court and not to have anything to do with him.

When asked by reporters what she would say to her husband Ms. Tippett replied: "I love him so much. I wish he'd just be good sometimes."

Ms. Tippett said she is going to stand by her husband.

"I'm going to try to, but if I can't, I can't," she said.

Mr. Tippett is charged in connection with the abduction of a girl after a birthday party in Peterborough early Wednesday morning. Police said she was taken to Courtice and sexually assaulted.

It was a scream heard by residents near Courtice Secondary School that prompted calls to police. A red van fled the scene and Mr. Tippett was later arrested in Manvers Township, west of Peterborough.

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