Conditional sentence for former bar co-owner in sex assault case

The former co-owner of a defunct Jasper Avenue bar has been given a conditional sentence after pleading guilty to inappropriately touching an employee.

James Leder was handed 18 months’ probation during an appearance in Edmonton provincial court Thursday, according to court records.

He pleaded guilty in June to grabbing the rear end of a female employee at Needle Vinyl Tavern on March 10, 2017.

That woman, Brittany Rudyck, successfully sought to have a mandatory publication ban on her name removed so she could speak about the case.

An agreed statement of facts entered with the guilty plea stated Leder grabbed Rudyck four times, including after she told him to stop.

Leder, who admitted to being drunk, eventually slapped another employee after that person intervened, at which point bar security escorted him out.

Leder later contacted Rudyck to apologize and said he didn’t remember what happened.

Rudyck continued to work at the bar through November 2017.

In a victim impact statement, Rudyck said Leder “chose to speak to me and grab me in ways that were humiliating and demeaning.”

The tavern closed its doors after the allegations came out. At a sentencing hearing, Rudyck told court she was harassed by people who blamed her for the closure, adding someone posted posters accusing her of lying about what happened.

“I didn’t leave my house for a few weeks after those posters came out,” she told court. “I was afraid for my safety.”

Crown attorneys had sought a 30-day jail sentence, while Leder’s counsel sought a conditional discharge to acknowledge Leder’s apology and previous lack of a criminal record.