Mantostandtrialon sex-relatedcharges

Aformer respite worker facing multiple counts of sex-related charges against underage victims has been ordered to stand trial. The accused, who can't be named under a publication ban to avoid identifying any complainants, was told Monday following a preliminary hearing in Lethbridge provincial court that he will stand trial on nine charges relating to incidents with four children between 2010 and April 2017. The 28-year-old man is set to be arraigned June 25 in Lethbridge Court of Queen’s Bench.

The man, who was a respitecare worker for people with developmental disabilities, was originally charged with six counts of sexual assault, six counts of sexual interference, two counts of sexual exploitation and one count of invitation to sexual touching. However, he will stand trial on four counts of sexual assault, three counts of sexual interference, one count of sexual exploitation and one count of invitation to sexual touching.

The accused was charged early in 2017 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. Last November he re-elected to be tried by a Queen’s Bench judge with a preliminary hearing.

Following Monday’s hearing, from which evidence is subject to a publication ban, defence lawyer Patrick Fagan argued there wasn’t enough evidence to warrant a trial.

“No reasonable jury could convict on the evidence,” he said.

Judge Timothy Hironaka disagreed, however, and said he is satisfied there is enough evidence for some of the charges.