Sarnia Court Room Door. File photo by Dave DentingerSarnia Court Room Door. File photo by Dave Dentinger
Sarnia

New Trial For Former City Fire Chief Begins

A new trial for former city fire chief Pat Cayen on sexual assault-related charges is underway at the Sarnia courthouse.

The case is being heard by Superior Court Justice Russell Raikes of London and could take up to four days.

Cayen, 59, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to 26 charges from one female complainant alleged to have occurred between 12 and 15 years ago..

A publication ban prohibits disclosure of time frame, the location of the alleged offences and the identity of the alleged victim who is now an adult.

Cayen was previously convicted in January 2015 of 19 counts as an adult involving a single victim and 14 offences as a youth involving three victims.

The Ontario Court of Appeal quashed the convictions in November 2016, ruling an error in law was made by mixing adult and youth indictments and allowing similar fact evidence to be applied to both cases.

The Crown subsequently withdrew the youth charges.

Cayen was initially charged in late 2012 and his employment with the Sarnia Fire and Rescue Service was terminated in early 2013.

Defense counsel Phillip Millar says Cayen has maintained his innocence since day one.

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