Registration breach allegation withdrawn
Richard Graham Anderson, 59, of Fredericton, had been accused of violating court order to register as sex offender, but Crown prosecutor dropped charge in court Wednesday
A homeless Fredericton man accused of failing to comply with a court order to register as a sex offender in late 2022 saw the charge dropped Wednesday as he was set to go to trial.
Richard Graham Anderson, 59, of no fixed address, had been charged with a Dec. 8, 2022, count of failing to comply with a court order issued under the Sex Offender Information Registration Act.
The count alleged he failed to attend his initial registration appointment after he was convicted of a summary sexual assault in 2022.
Anderson had pleaded not guilty to the charge last year and was scheduled to stand trial Wednesday. He appeared in Fredericton provincial court, representing himself.
But Anderson spoke with the registration officer before court convened to offer an explanation, and the officer then spoke with Crown prosecutor Samantha Goodine.
When Judge Natalie LeBlanc called Anderson’s case, Goodine said the Crown was withdrawing the charge, noting that upon learning the information Anderson conveyed to the registration officer, it was decided it wasn’t in the public interest to pursue the case.
Anderson is subject to the registration order due to a sexual assault he committed June 11, 2021. He made an unwanted advance after he snuck into a motel pool area in uptown Fredericton, going under the water in the hot tub and touching a woman’s upper legs and thighs.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.
It's so difficult to try to understand the justice system in NB. They don't think it is important to protect the public against this kind of perpetrator. It feels like they just can't be bothered with this type of case.