By Taylor MacPherson

Abduction charges dropped in Sask. Amber Alert case

Dec 12, 2016 | 4:01 PM

An 18-year-old man who triggered an Amber Alert in La Ronge was sentenced today on other matters after the abduction charges against him were dropped by the Crown.

Jarrod John Charles was sentenced today for a previous sexual assault dating back to June 18, as well as failing to appear for court and breaching an undertaking by being alone with children under 16 years old. Charles was given a global sentence of 3.5 months’ time served and three years’ probation.

Charles was initially charged with two counts of abduction of a person under 14 and two breaches of an undertaking after a Sept. 28 incident when he took two young boys from the La Ronge area to his grandmother’s home in St. Louis, Sask.

Crown Prosecutor Luke Coupal said the the abduction charges against Charles were dropped because the incident did not fit the legal requirements.

“The charges were dropped after we were able to look at the evidence,” Coupal told paNOW. “The requirement for an abduction is that you have to be taking the child for the purpose of denying the legal guardian access to that child. That’s not what happened here.”

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Coupal said Charles was concerned for the safety of the children when he brought them to St. Louis. The court, Coupal said, took into account Charles’ cognitive difficulties during sentencing.

“The judge was satisfied there was no ill intention with regard to the two boys,” Coupal said.

As part of his probation, Charles will be required to participate in personal and sexual offender counselling, and will be forced to enroll in the National Sexual Offender Registry. Charles will still not be allowed to be alone with children under 16, and will not be allowed to attend any parks or pools except in the company of an adult who is aware of his charges.

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

@TMacPhersonNews