EX-SMU employee granted bail on sex-related charges

A former Saint Mary’s University employee accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a student residence on the Halifax campus was granted bail Tuesday.

Matthew Albert Percy, 34, of Halifax is charged with sexual assault and voyeurism in connection with a Sept. 15 incident.

Police allege Percy had sex with a woman without her consent and recorded video of their encounter with his cellphone.

Percy was arraigned in Halifax provincial court last Thursday and was remanded until Tuesday for a bail hearing.

He was released from custody on a $25,000 recognizance worked out by defence lawyer Kishan Persaud and Crown attorney Stacey Gerrard.

Judge Bill Digby placed Percy on house arrest at his apartment on Birches Drive and prohibited him from having contact with the alleged victim, whose identity is protected by a publication ban.

Percy is not allowed to possess or consume alcohol or drugs and cannot go to any establishment where the primary business is selling alcohol.

The judge also ordered him to stay away from children under the age of 16 and places known to be frequented by kids, such as parks, playgrounds, schools and community centres.

Percy will return to court in February.

Halifax Regional Police responded to a report of a sexual assault at SMU on Sept. 15 at 4: 04 a. m. after a woman went to the SMU residence desk and asked that staff call police because she had been sexually assaulted by a man known to her.

The suspect was located in a dorm room and was arrested by patrol members without incident.

He was taken in for questioning but was released without charges pending further investigation.

He was re-arrested last Wednesday at 4: 15 p. m. outside an address near the Armdale roundabout.

Percy worked as a groundskeeper at SMU at the time of the incident but is no longer employed there.