Gym coach accused in sex assaults still looking for a lawyer
By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on July 11, 2023.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com
A gymnastics coach charged a year ago with sexually assaulting several young girls is still looking for a lawyer, nearly three months after he fired his first lawyer.
Jamie Ellacott made a brief appearance Monday in Lethbridge Court of King’s Bench, where he was expected to appear with Calgary lawyer Tonii Roulston. Ellacott told court he’s been unable to come up with a retainer to hire the lawyer, but he has since been approved for Legal Aid assistance and he expects to have a lawyer assigned to him by the end of the week.
Ellacott faces five counts each of sexual interference and sexual assault of a person under the age of 16.
He was initially charged in July of last year with single counts of sexual assault and sexual interference after police responded to a report that a seven-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted between May and June of 2022 while attending the Lethbridge Gymnastics Academy in the 3200 block of 32 Street North.
Ellacott was released from custody on that matter with numerous conditions including he not have any contact with the child, and not have any contact or communication directly or indirectly with any person under the age of 16 unless in the presence of a responsible adult.
In August, police reported three more girls, ages 10, 12 and 14, were sexually assaulted during sessions at the gym in May, and Ellacott was charged again and released on bail with conditions he not have any contact with the girls or witnesses.
The matter is scheduled to return to court on July 24 to confirm whether the accused has a new lawyer.
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