Prelim date may come soon

The lawyer for a former educational assistant charged with sexual assault is hoping to take a step in the case, but not for at least two more weeks.

An agent for Calgary lawyer Patrick Fagan told court Friday defence is getting close to setting a preliminary hearing, but needs more time to complete some administrative paperwork. The matter has been adjourned to Nov. 10.

The accused, who can’t be named under a court-ordered publication ban to avoid possibly identifying any complainants, was expected to enter pleas Oct. 6 on some of the charges and decide if he wants to be tried in Court of Queen’s Bench or provincial court. Neither happened during Friday’s hearing.

The accused was a respitecare worker for people with developmental disabilities and an educational assistant with Palliser Regional Schools. He faces six counts of sexual assault, six counts of sexual interference, two counts of sexual exploitation and one count of invitation to sexual touching, all in relation to underage individuals.

RCMP reported earlier there was no indication any of the offences occurred at the school where the man worked.

The 27-year-old man was initially charged near the beginning of the year in relation to one young person, and he had pleaded not guilty to that charge and elected to be tried by judge alone. He was later charged in relation to three additional young people.

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