Police charged Muhammet Kamacihan in October 2025 following an investigation on Whitefish Island

A judicial pre-trial has been set for a Searchmont man accused of sexually assaulting an individual on Whitefish Island.

This afternoon, legal counsel for Muhammet Kamacihan confirmed with Justice of the Peace Kyle Cachagee that a judicial pre-trial has been scheduled to take place on Jan. 30.

Judicial pre-trials are closed-door meetings that take place between a judge, defence lawyer and the Crown to allow all parties to hash out any issues or concerns before a criminal matter proceeds to trial.

Kamacihan was arrested on Oct. 23, 2025 after the crime units for Sault Ste. Marie and East Algoma Ontario Provincial Police investigated a complaint of a sexual assault on Whitefish Island.

The 33-year-old man has been charged with one count of sexual assault and two counts of failing to comply with a probation order.

Kamacihan is currently being held for a bail hearing and remains in custody at the Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre.

None of the allegations have been tested in court and he is considered innocent until proven guilty.

Kamacihan is represented in court by Sault-based lawyer Murdoch Carter.

As previously reported by SooToday, Kamacihan has a lengthy criminal record dating back to 2018 after being convicted of possessing drugs and weapons, robbery and fleeing police, among other convictions.

In July 2018, a then 26-year-old Kamacihan pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl who later became pregnant, according to a news article in the Calgary Herald.

He was sentenced to time served after spending three months in pre-sentence custody and placed on two years probation as part of a plea bargain.

Part of his probation barred Kamacihan from the province of Alberta for the duration of the court order.

Kamacihan’s sexual assault case returns to court on Feb. 12.