Sexual exploitation charge against former hockey team manager stayed

A scheduled trial for a former manager of the Prince Albert Northern Bears’ hockey team will not be going ahead Tuesday, as the charge against him has been stayed by the Crown.

Last October, Jamie Engen was charged with a single count of sexual exploitation. According to court records, the Crown provided a copy of its decision on Aug. 18. Defence lawyer Garth Bendig told paNOW his client was relieved with the outcome.

“It was our hope all along the Crown would discontinue the prosecution. Mr. Engen participated in the investigation throughout and so the result is what we had hoped for,” he said.

Around the same time, Engen was charged, he was let go from the Northern Bears’ organization, which is a member of the Saskatchewan Female U18 Hockey League. Team President Laura Quesnel provided a statement to paNOW:

“The past 10 months has been a very difficult time for our…. hockey family. We, as an organization will continue to provide all the appropriate measures to ensure the safety, health and well being of all our players are met as we move forward from this,” she said.

Crown lawyer Kristen Hubbard could not be reached for comment on Monday, and so the exact reasons for the stay of proceedings were not immediately clear.

When a charge is stayed by the courts, the Crown does have up to one year to relitigate the charges.

— By paNOW’s Nigel Maxwell