By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Historic sex crimes case adjourned for pre-trial conference

Apr 11, 2018 | 11:54 AM

LETHBRIDGE – An adjournment has been granted in a case involving alleged historical sex crimes that date back to the 1980s and 1990s, allowing the Crown prosecutor and defence to work through procedural issues.

The 49-year-old accused cannot be identified as he was a youth at the time of some of the alleged offences.

While speaking to the matter in youth court where the man faces 18 charges, defence lawyer Robert Bissett said they want to have a preliminary inquiry – which determines if there is enough evidence to warrant a trial – but are not prepared to enter a plea at this time. The Crown noted that they need to review the procedure for moving such a case forward and asked for an adjournment.

Judge Greg Maxwell directed that there be a pre-trial conference to address any issues, and had the matter scheduled to return to court May 9.

Meanwhile, in Provincial Court on the man’s two adult charges, he elected trial by Queen’s Bench judge alone with a preliminary inquiry. No plea was entered on those, and it was also adjourned to May 9.

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This follows a series of settlement proposals that were exchanged between the Crown and defence over the last couple of months.

According to Picture Butte RCMP, they were contacted by a victim in September of 2016 who reported that when she was a child she had been sexually abused by a man known to her. Through their investigation, police say three additional women came forward with allegations that they had suffered similar assaults.

All of the alleged offences occurred in the 1980s and 1990s, with incidents beginning when the accused was a youth and continuing into adulthood.

Charges against him include sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching.

He is currently out of custody with bail conditions that bar him from having contact with anyone under the age of 18.

by Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Historic sex crimes case adjourned for pre-trial conference

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