Preliminary hearing set for youth respite worker accused of sexual assault
LETHBRIDGE – A preliminary hearing date has been set for a 27-year-old man, charged with multiple counts of sexual assault, sexual interference and sexual exploitation.
The one-day hearing has been scheduled for May 28, 2018, and will determine if there is enough evidence to warrant a trial. Should that be the case, he has already elected trial by judge alone, after entering not guilty pleas.
The charges against the accused – who cannot be identified under a court ordered publication ban – are in relation to four alleged victims.
The accused was initially arrested on Feb. 16, 2017, following an investigation launched by Coaldale RCMP into allegations of offences involving a young person with developmental disabilities. Charges pertaining to the other three alleged victims were then entered by the Crown in August, prompting the defence to ask for more time to review the case.