‘Massive’ disclosure in gymnastics academy sexual assault case

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on January 6, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

The case against a local gymnastics coach accused of sexually assaulting several young girls continues to be adjourned while his lawyer wades through reams of information from the Crown’s office.

“I have a massive, massive amount of disclosure,” Lethbridge lawyer Scott Hadford said Thursday during a brief hearing in Lethbridge provincial court.

The accused, Jamie Ellacott, is expected to enter pleas to his charges, but Hadford explained he needs additional time to review disclosure before taking the next step.

“I echo my friend’s comments, there’s a lot of disclosure here,” agreed Crown Prosecutor James Rouleau, who suggested a relatively lengthy adjournment until Feb. 16 to allow defence time to go through the information.

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 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 this year 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.

Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter

Comments are closed.