New trial dates have been set for a caregiver accused of sexually assaulting a disabled man who was in his care.
Leo Denis Ducharme, 58, is accused of one count of sexually assaulting a 29-year-old man at the alleged victim’s home in Red Deer on Aug. 11, 2010.
Ducharme, who lived in Ponoka at the time, was released on bail shortly after the charges were laid and a trial was later set for mid-January 2013.
On Dec. 22, 2011, Ducharme was arrested and charged with breaching conditions of his bail during a traffic stop in the City of Calgary, where he was working for a company that provides transportation services to railroad crews.
Ducharme is to enter a plea in Red Deer provincial court on Wednesday on three counts of breaching conditions, including one count of failing to notify the Red Deer RCMP of a change of address and two counts of possessing equipment that would allow him to view or possess child pornography.
Still in custody, Ducharme also appeared in an arraignment hearing in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench on Monday.
Upon hearing the circumstances of Ducharme’s arrest, Justice David Gates sought to bring his trial date forward from its original date given that the accused could end up being held in custody for almost a year if his bail were revoked.
After hearing submissions from both Crown and defence, Gates chose against revoking bail on Monday. However, Ducharme remains in custody until Wednesday, when he is to enter a plea in provincial court on the three new charges of breaching the conditions of his bail.
His trial on the sexual assault charge has been changed to April 16 to 20 of this year, in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench.
While he originally chose a jury trial, Ducharme was able to change his election on Monday to trial by judge alone.