GRAND FORKS — Peter Nygard, former fashion executive and UND alumnus, has been on trial in Toronto since late September for sexual assault and forcible confinement charges.
Nygard, 82, faces criminal charges in Toronto, Manitoba, Quebec and New York. His alleged crimes include sexual assault, forcible confinement, sex trafficking adults and minors, racketeering and various illegal sexual activities.
Nygard was arrested in 2020 and, after stepping down from his position at Nygard International, the clothing brand went bankrupt within the same year.
Nygard graduated from UND in 1964.
Nygard pleaded not guilty to five counts of sexual assault and one count of forcible confinement in Toronto. His trial began on Sept. 26 of this year.
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The five alleged victims in this case — whose names are concealed — testified that Nygard sexually assaulted them when they were between the ages of 16 and 28.
The prosecution claims Nygard lured women into his office under false pretenses and sexually assaulted them, the New York Times reported. The crimes are believed to have occurred from the 1980s to 2005.
One woman testified Nygard offered to help her with her career but, instead, made sexual remarks during a shared meal before assaulting her in his office.
The youngest woman, now 35, said she was a teenager when Nygard raped her.
Nygard testified that none of these assaults happened.
During cross-examination on Wednesday, Nov. 1, a lawyer representing the Crown noted that Nygard’s initial interview with law enforcement was inconsistent with his trial testimony, multiple news sources reported.
For example, Nygard testified he had no recollection of meeting one of the alleged victims and said he wouldn’t have offered to assist with her ventures because she was working on junior clothing, which he had no interest in.
However, a news article from that time period reported that Nygard was collaborating with a woman on a junior’s clothing line.
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After Nygard’s legal matters in Toronto are complete, he will have to address the charges in Manitoba and Quebec. After that, he will be transported to New York, where he’s charged with racketeering conspiracy; conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; sex trafficking of a minor by force, fraud or coercion; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; transportation of a minor for the purpose of prostitution; two counts of transportation for the purpose of prostitution; and transportation for the purpose of prostitution and illegal sexual activity.