Thunder Bay lawyer Sandy Zaitzeff, charged with sexual assault, back in court Friday

A long-serving lawyer in Thunder Bay, Ont. facing assault and sex charges is slated to be back in court on Friday.

Alexander (Sandy) Zaitzeff has been charged with a number of offences, including five counts of assault, two counts of sexual assault and one count each of mischief, invitation to sexual touching, sexual interference and breach of recognizance.

Zaitzeff appeared in court Thursday via video from Thunder Bay police headquarters. He was remanded into custody until Friday morning, when he's due to appear in-person at the Thunder Bay courthouse for a bail hearing.

A Crown Attorney from Sault Ste. Marie will handle the case, as the local office in Thunder Bay has declared a conflict of interest.

Zaitzeff is being defended by a lawyer from Toronto.