June, 1988
A sexual assault complaint against Travis Sterling is made to the Martensville police department. No charges result from the allegation, by a ten-year-old girl.

Sept. 19, 1991
Claudia Bryden is hired as an officer with the Martensville department.

Sept. 30, 1991
Parents of a two-year-old girl complain to Martensville constable Jim Elstad, alleging the child has been assaulted by Travis Sterling.

Oct. 1, 1991
Elstad refers to the complaint to Claudia Bryden, who begins investigating immediately.

Oct. 4, 1991
Sexual assault charges are laid against Travis Sterling in connection with the 1988 complaint.

Nov. 2, 1991
Additional sexual assault charges are laid against Travis Sterling, now in relation to the September complaint.

Dec. 20, 1991
Sexual assault, uttering threats and pointing a firearm charges are laid against Linda Sterling.

Jan. 16, 1992
Ron Sterling is charged with sexual assault, uttering threats and pointing a firearm.

March 2, 1992
Ex-RCMP officer Mike Johnston is hired as the new chief for the Martensville police department.

April 1, 1992
Martensville constable Jim Elstad is charged with sexual assault and sexual interference.

June 3, 1992
Police arrest Jim Elstad and Ron, Linda and Travis Sterling. A 20-year-old woman is arrested under the Young Offenders Act. Former Martensville police chiefs Darryl Ford and Ed Revesz, along with RCMP constable Darren Sabourin, are also arrested.

June 5, 1992
Saskatoon police Corporal John Popowich is charged with sexual abuse and arrested.

June 11, 1992
A task force of RCMP and Saskatoon police officers is created by the provincial government to take over the Martensville investigation.

March 8, 1993
The trial of the female young offender begins. She is convicted on seven of the 10 sex-related charges. All convictions are later overturned on appeal.

June 8, 1993
All charges against Saskatoon police officer John Popowich are stayed when the child complainants cannot identify him in court. The judge says he is clearly innocent.

July 1, 1993
The Martensville Police Department is disbanded, law enforcement in the community taken over by the RCMP.

Feb. 2, 1994
Ron and Linda Sterling are found not guilty during a jury trial on all counts. Travis Sterling is convicted on eight counts; six are overturned on appeal.

Feb. 10, 1994
The Crown stays all charges against Darren Sabourin, Jim Elstad, Ed Revesz and Darryl Ford.

September, 1994
Saskatoon police officer John Popowich initiates a malicious prosecution lawsuit against the government of Saskatchewan, Crown prosecutors and police investigators.

June 18, 2002
The government of Saskatchewan pays John Popowich $1.3 million and publicly states it prosecuted an innocent man as part of an out-of-court settlement on the eve of his civil trial.