Charges replaced in sex assault case

Charges against a 49-year-old Raymond man facing decades-old sex offences have been adjourned to the end of the month.

The case was adjourned Wednesday following brief hearings in Lethbridge provincial court, where the accused faces both youth and adult charges relating to several women.

Police reported that in September 2016 they were contacted by a woman who said she had been sexually abused as a child by a man known to her. The Picture Butte RCMP began an investigation into the allegations and three additional women came forward to report they had also been assaulted.

In January, Picture Butte RCMP charged the accused following an investigation into the allegations of sexual assaults in the 1980s and 1990s.

During Wednesday’s hearing in adult court, the Crown introduced new charges that replace the original two counts of invitation to sexual touching and sexual interference, with one count of sexual interference and three counts of sexual assault. The accused, who can’t be identified under a courtordered publication ban, also faces 18 charges in youth court, although the Crown said she intends to introduce replacement charges there, as well, during the next hearing May 30.

The accused elected last month to have his adult charges tried by a judge in Court of Queen’s Bench with a preliminary hearing, which typically determines if there is enough evidence to warrant a trial.