Gymnastics coach charged with sex assaults hires new lawyer

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on July 26, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

Three months after firing his lawyer, a gymnastics coach charged a year ago with sexually assaulting several young girls has retained new counsel.

The accused, Jamie Ellacott, has hired Calgary lawyer Kirsten Lancee to defend him on several sex-related charges. Ellacott fired his first lawyer last April, and during a hearing at that time told the judge he planned to retain Calgary lawyer Tonii Roulston. Lancee is a member of the same law firm.

The matter was in Lethbridge Court of King’s Bench Monday, where Lancee said she requires time to get up to speed on the file and requested an adjournment to Aug. 28.

Ellacott faces four 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.

The following August, police reported three more girls, ages 10, 12 and 14, were sexually assaulted during sessions at the gym the previous May, and Ellacott was charged again and released on bail with conditions he not have any contact with the girls or witnesses.

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