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Third lawyer withdraws for Coaldale man accused of sexual assault

Dec 11, 2017 | 10:47 AM

LETHBRIDGE – A Coaldale man accused of sexually assaulting multiple youths, is now looking for a fourth lawyer in just under a year.

At what was supposed to be the outset of a bail hearing for Trevor Pritchard Monday morning (Dec. 11), his lawyer, Mansoor Kahn, requested and was granted permission by the court to withdraw from the case.

Kahn told the court that the Crown’s intension to seek a dangerous offender standing for Pritchard if he is convicted, prompted his request. He explained that he did not feel experienced enough to handle such a matter.

He then informed the court – and Pritchard later confirmed – that Calgary lawyer, Tonii Roulston, plans to meet with Pritchard this week to discuss taking the case on.

Pritchard already has a pair of trials coming up in 2018, which the Crown noted they are not prepared to abandon. The first is set to run Apr. 9–13, 2018, on charges of sexual assault, uttering threats and child luring. The second will is scheduled for Nov. 13–30, 2018, on two counts of sexual assault, two counts of child luring and one count of possession of child pornography.

The 32-year-old was arrested and charged on Jan. 18, 2017, for the alleged sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl. Coaldale RCMP then released a statement, asking anyone with information regarding other offences related to the matter to come forward. Three more alleged victims later came forward, with the Crown saying three are under the age of 16, and one is under 14.

He finished serving a 44-month sentence in November of 2013 for the sexual assault of two 13-year-old girls.

The matter has been adjourned to Dec. 15, at which time Pritchard has a pre-trial conference.

His remains in custody for the time being by his own consent.