Haneytown man denies sex crimes against minor
Mathew Peter Robert Gratton, 28, accused of sexual offences dating back to 2012
A Haneytown man is headed to trial after denying allegations Wednesday that he sexually assaulted and touched an underage complainant years ago.
Mathew Peter Robert Gratton, 28, of Broad Road, made his first appearance in Fredericton provincial court on two indictable charges.
He’s accused of sexually assaulting a minor and touching that child for a sexual purpose, both in Haneytown between Dec. 17, 2012, and Dec. 31, 2016.
Crown prosecutor Wesley McIntosh asked the court to impose a publication ban on information that would tend to identify the young complainant, and Judge Camreon Gunn issued that order.
Defence lawyer Spencer MacInnis, on hand with Gratton as his legal counsel, said her client was electing to be tried in provincial court and pleading not guilty to both counts.
McIntosh said the Crown expects to call seven witnesses at trial, and he and MacInnis suggested two days would be needed for the trial.
However, the prosecutor said a case-management conference could possibly narrow the trial issues and shorten the timeframe necessary to hear the case.
Furthermore, MacInnis said she needed to get more information to prepare.
“I made a further disclosure request to the Crown,” the defence lawyer said.
Gunn set the matter over to Nov. 17 for a case-management conference, and trial dates will be set at that time.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.
And an other pedophile wow We have so many it is crazy -- When will we put a stop to it :( - Give them real time and in gen pop