Local soldier denies U.S. sexual assault

Charges against Christopher West, 44, of Tracyville, allege offences at California base

A Canadian Forces soldier denied allegations Friday that he sexually assaulted someone and damaged their property when on a military exercise in the western United States in 2023.

Christopher West, 44, of Route 101 in Tracyville, appeared in Fredericton provincial court with defence counsel Isabelle Caissie Friday to answer to two summary charges.

Canadian soldier Christopher West, 44, is accused of committing a sexual assault while on a training exercise at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, in Twenty-Nine Palms, Calif., in 2023. (Photo: Facebook)

Caissie said her client was pleading not guilty to Nov. 3, 2023, counts of sexual assault and mischief causing damage to property.

There’s a court-ordered publication ban in effect protecting the identity of the complainant.