Stettler-area father faces multiple charges in sexual assault case

A Stettler-area father has elected to be tried by a judge alone on alleged sex-related and child pornography offences against some of his children.

The Crown and the defence counsel had hoped to resolve the case this month, but an agreement couldn’t be reached.

Judge David Plosz had set a preliminary inquiry Sept. 24 to determine if there’s enough evidence to proceed to trial.

The accused, whose identity can’t be released under a court-imposed publication ban because it could identify the victims, made a brief appearance Jan. 13 in Red Deer provincial court.

Lawyer Will Willms told the court that his client, 37, has elected to be tried by judge alone in Court of Queen’s Bench.

The accused is charged with sexual assault, sexual interference, and making, printing or producing child pornography. The offences are alleged to have occurred between May and June 2011.

The man was previously released on a $2,000 bond and prohibited from having contact with anyone under the age of 18, including his six children.

He’s not permitted to go within 500 metres of schools or playgrounds and must stay at least 2,000 metres from his family’s residence.

Willms and special Crown prosecutor Jenny Rees of Calgary told Judge Plosz that they’re still hoping for a resolution before the preliminary inquiry goes ahead.

“If it’s resolvable, we will alert court to free up that time for other matters,” Willms said.

Rees, who met with the mother of the alleged victims Jan. 13, is part of a small group of prosecutors that handles all child pornography-related cases in the southern part of the province.

Rees said that approach is to limit the number of people who see the pornographic images, which aren’t even shared with the defence counsel.

— Stettler Independent