Decision expected Wednesday in sex assault case
PEMBROKE — A judge will decide Wednesday if a 75-yearold city man facing 19 historical sexual assault-related charges involving 12 complainants for incidents alleged to have taken place between 1969 and 1986 will go to trial.
A preliminary hearing for Stan McBride Jr. got underway Feb. 6 in Pembroke (Renfrew County) Ontario Court of Justice. He faces 10 counts of administering a noxious substance, eight counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault.
Most, but not all, of the allegations are related to incidents at a seasonal property in South Algonquin Township, west of Barry’s Bay. Two charges related to the same victim stem from incidents in Scugog Township in 1970 and 1972.
Two more complainants came forward about incidents alleged to have taken place in 1981 and 1982 after the preliminary hearing began.
A standard publication ban prevents media from reporting the name of witnesses or any information that could identify them.
The preliminary hearing, which determines if there is sufficient evidence to set the matter down for trial before a Superior Court judge, was heard by Justice Michael March.
The proceeding began Feb. 6 and 7 and resumed March 26 and 27, April 10 and June 4, 22 and 26 and Sept. 21.
The son of former city mayor Stanley McBride elected last year to face a jury, should he be committed to trial.
He is being represented by lawyer Dave McFadden of the George St.-based firm Moldaver & McFadden. The case is being prosecuted by Terri James.
McBride Jr. was first charged in December 2016 with attempted sexual assault and administering a noxious substance in a 1983 incident involving a 15-year-old boy at a seasonal property in South Algonquin Township, west of Barry’s Bay.
More charges were laid on Feb. 13, 2017 after four men, who were between 17 and 18 at the time of the incidents between 1980 and 1983, reported incidents that happened at the same seasonal property in South Algonquin, Renfrew County OPP said.
McBride Jr. has been accused of similar charges in the past and been both convicted and had accusations dismissed.
In August 2001, charges of sexual assault and administering a stupefying drug were dismissed after a judge in North Bay Superior Court of Justice ruled there was no proof a sex act between McBride Jr. and a man was not consensual.
The charges stemmed from a November 1998 incident at McBride Jr.’s cabin in the former Sabine Township, now South Algonquin. The man, who was 20 at the time, was the Crown’s only witness during a one-day trial held in June 2001.
In 1988, McBride Jr. — then a city public school teacher — was convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old Peterborough boy the year before at his cottage near Algonquin Park. He was sentenced to eight months in jail and two years of probation.
Charges of administering a noxious thing and an Ontario Liquor Licence Act charge of supplying alcohol to a person under 19 were dropped.