Roughriders GM Tillman charged with sexual assault

Feb 3, 2009 - 10:34 PM REGINA, Saskatchewan (Ticker) -- Saskatchewan Roughriders general manager Eric Tillman has been charged with sexual assault involving a 16-year-old girl, police said Tuesday.

Police also said the charge stems from an alleged encounter with the girl last summer in Regina.

Upon hearing the charges, the Roughriders placed Tillman on administrative leave.

"We need to be respectful of the process," team president Jin Hopson said.

"I think we have to go back again to that presumption of innocence. So until we know more, we just presume innocence and once we know more, we deal with it."

A police spokesman that the alleged assault is believed to have taken place on August 6.

Tillman, 51, was arrested on January 27. He was released and is scheduled to appear in court on February 24.

Tillman has been the club's general manager since replacing the fired Roy Shivers in August 2006.

Months prior to Tillman's hiring, the Roughriders also dealt with a scandal when linebacker Trevis Smith was charged with aggravated sexual assault for knowingly exposing two women to the HIV virus by having unprotected sex with them and not revealing his condition.