By Patrick Burles/ Lethbridge News Now

Two trials set for registered sex offender accused of sexually assaulting teens

Nov 27, 2017 | 1:04 PM

A sexual assault trial scheduled for November of 2018, has now been split into two separate trials that will both go ahead next year.

The Crown made the request to have the case divided up Monday morning, Nov. 27, for 32-year-old convicted sex offender, Trevor Pritchard.

The Coaldale man’s first trial on individual charges of sexual assault, uttering threats and child luring is set for Apr. 9–13, 2018. The second will run from Nov. 13–30, 2018, on two counts of sexual assault, two counts of child luring and one count of possession of child pornography.

After confirming those dates, a bail hearing for Pritchard was then set for Dec. 11, 2017.

During a court appearance in August – in which Mansoor Khan became the third defence lawyer to take on the case – it was noted by the Crown that they had become concerned with delays, and the potential for a Jordan application from the defence down the road. They then asked for a trial to be set, proposing dates in March and May of 2018.

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Khan responded by saying his schedule was already full for those dates, saying November was the best he could do, adding that they were not willing to waive Pritchard’s rights under Jordan.

The ‘Jordan decision’ comes from the Supreme Court of Canada, and establishes timelines that trials must be heard by.

Pritchard was arrested and charged on Jan. 18, 2017, for the alleged sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl. Coaldale RCMP then released a statement, asking anyone with information regarding other offences related to the matter to come forward. Three more alleged victims later came forward, with the Crown saying three are under the age of 16, and one is under 14.

He finished off a 44-month sentence in November of 2013 for the sexual assault of two 13-year-old girls, and the Crown noted that if they get a conviction on the current charges, they will be seeking a dangerous offender standing for Pritchard.