N.B. pastor guilty of indecent assault
Last Updated: Friday, January 22, 2010 | 11:07 PM AT
CBC News
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A Woodstock, N.B., jury has found a former Plaster Rock pastor guilty of indecent assault and not guilty of sexual assault.
There was silence in the courtroom as the jury announced its verdict for Frederick Douglas Hanson, 61, who faced both charges during a one-week trial.
The sexual assault charge was related to incidents alleged to have occurred between Jan. 1, 1988, and Dec. 31, 1990, in the Upper Brighton and Somerville areas.
The indecent assault charge — brought by a second complainant — was for incidents between Jan. 1, 1971, and Dec. 31, 1974, in the Somerville area.
The jurors began deliberations at about 3 p.m. Friday and returned with a unanimous decision six hours later. Over four days of testimony, the jury heard from each complainant and many witnesses.
Hanson testified in his own defence Thursday. He has been released from custody and will return to court Feb. 26 for the victim-impact statements.
Hanson is also being tried on four other charges: two counts of touching someone under 14 for a sexual purpose and two counts of touching for a sexual purpose while being in a position of trust. The trial on those charges was adjourned last week and will resume May 3.
Hanson resigned as pastor of the Plaster Rock Free Will Baptist Church in February 2008 after the RCMP investigation into his conduct was made public.
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