Calgary chef Michael Noble no longer faces a sexual assault trial, after the Crown prosecutor's office stayed the charge against him.
"Mr. Noble has been confident since entering a not-guilty plea on his first court appearance that the court would properly dispose of the accusation against him," reads a statement released by Noble's lawyer, Jennifer Ruttan.
"The Crown decision to stay the prosecution supports his confidence in the criminal justice system."
According to Alberta Justice, the case was reviewed by both a senior prosecutor and the chief Crown prosecutor, who determined Noble was unlikely to be found guilty.
"There is a difference between the police standard for laying a charge and the Crown standard for prosecuting a case, meaning that sometimes the Crown will not proceed with charges laid by the police," read an emailed statement.
"This is part of the criminal justice system's checks and balances."
Noble was accused of assaulting a 21-year-old woman after following her into a bathroom at a social gathering that took place at a lounge in the 200 block of Eighth Avenue S.W. in January 2018.
In a civil document filed by the complainant, she claimed he cornered her in a stall and sexually assaulted her.
Noble pleaded not guilty last May. At that time, his lawyer said her client "denies the allegations and will continue to rigorously defend his innocence."
An 'incredibly difficult' ordeal
The trial was to take place in March.
When a charge is stayed, the prosecution has one year to reopen the case but that almost never happens.
Ruttan says her client is asking for privacy as he tries to put "this incredibly difficult and public ordeal behind him."
Noble is the owner of award-winning restaurants The Nash in Inglewood and Notable in Montgomery.
Clarifications
An earlier version of this story included a quote from Alberta Justice saying the charges were stayed as "circumstances have significantly changed," however Alberta Justice issued a clarification saying that statement pertained to a different case. The updated statement says "there is a difference between the police standard for laying a charge and the Crown standard for prosecuting a case."
Feb 16, 2019 9:19 AM MT
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A violent sex offender has been arrested in Quebec on a Canada-wide warrant after fleeing a Vancouver halfway house.
Vancouver police say Joseph Davis was arrested early Sunday morning.
Davis, a four-time federal offender, failed to return to his halfway house on Feb. 11.
On Feb. 14, police notified the public that Joseph may have been headed out of province in a Mercedes SUV.
"During his early morning arrest today in Quebec, he acknowledged the media attention about his warrant and the SUV, which he was driving when he was arrested," said police in a media release.
It's not the first time Davis had fled the province.
In 2017, he was arrested in Saskatchewan after fleeing a Vancouver halfway house.
He remains in police custody.
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Joseph Davis was convicted for luring real estate agent into his Winnipeg home and attacking her
A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for the arrest of a violent sexual offender who police say might be headed to Winnipeg.
Joseph Davis, 47, was on release under a long-term supervision order and was living in a Vancouver halfway house when he missed his curfew on Monday night, according to the Vancouver Police Department.
Police said they have learned that Davis purchased a grey 2001 Mercedes ML320, and believe that he is headed east to Winnipeg. The vehicle has the B.C. licence plate HB7 41S.
Davis served four years in jail for sexual assault after being convicted for luring a 50-year-old real estate agent into his Winnipeg home and attacking her in 2007.
Six years earlier, Davis was convicted of forcible confinement and assault causing bodily harm after attacking a sex trade worker at his house.
This is the second time he has breached his release conditions and been unlawfully at large.
In April 2017, Davis went missing from his halfway house and was arrested a few days later near Langenburg, Sask., after someone called police when they recognized Davis's car from media reports.
Langenburg is about a four-hour drive west of Winnipeg.
Davis is described as 5-8 and 178 pounds with short blond hair, blue eyes, and numerous tattoos on his arms. He was last seen wearing a black rain jacket, blue jeans and work boots, and carrying a small backpack.
Anyone who sees him or the vehicle is asked to immediately call 911.
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Toronto police have released security images of a suspect after a sexual assault on a TTC subway train.
Just after 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, a 21-year-old woman was heading west on Line 2.
When the train stopped at Woodbine Station, a man boarded and reportedly sat beside her.
He then allegedly committed an indecent act, grabbed the woman and sexually assaulted her.
The suspect then got off the train when it stopped at Greenwood Station and fled on foot.
He is in his late teens to early 20s, five feet five inches tall, with a thin build, short brown or black hair, and clean-shaven. He was wearing a black hooded jacket, a grey top with a burgundy hood, black pants with a white stripe down the side and running shoes.
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Suspect images released after woman allegedly sexually assaulted on TTC
toronto.citynews.ca
Toronto police have released security images of a suspect after a sexual assault on a TTC subway train. Just after 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, a 21-year-old woman was heading west on Line 2. When the train stopped at Woodbine Station, a man boarded and reportedly sat beside her. He then allegedly committed.... Toronto police have made an arrest in an investigation into human trafficking of a 14-year-old girl.
The arrest was made in partnership with the Canada Border Services Agency, the U.S. Customs Agency and Peel Regional Police.
The investigation began on June 13, 2018, according to a Tuesday news release from Toronto Police Service. The girl was allegedly forced to provide sexual services for money and give all the money she earned to her trafficker.
On June 7, 2018, a man who was a resident of the United States who had travelled to Toronto for business allegedly solicited sexual services from the girl, the release also said.
Tal Amdurski, 37, of Toronto, was arrested in connection with this investigation, although the news release does not specify when. He appeared in court at Old City Hall on Oct. 26, 2018.
He faces eight charges including trafficking in persons under 18 by recruiting, material benefit from sexual services by a person under 18, sexual interference with a person under 16 and sexual assault.
Tomas Graff, 57, of Brook Park, Minnesota, was also arrested. He appeared in court at 2201 Finch Ave. W. on Feb. 1, 2019.
He is charged with obtaining sexual services for consideration from a person under 18, sexual interference with a person under 16, invitation to sexual touching under 16 and sexual assault.
Police believe there may be other victims.
“The Human Trafficking Enforcement Team would like the public to be aware that many adults and children are trafficked into the sex trade and purchasing their services is a criminal offence,” said the release. “We will investigate these occurrences and arrest perpetrators, no matter their country of origin.”
Police are also encouraging all affected individuals to come forward and report human trafficking occurrences so victims can access support services and an exit strategy.
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