Charges against a high-ranking military officer accused of sex crimes were withdrawn in an Edmonton courtroom Friday. The Crown prosecutor asked a Court of Queen's Bench judge to withdraw all charges against Lt.-Col. Mason Stalker, who was ordered earlier this year to stand trial on three counts of sexual assault and four counts of sexual exploitation following a one-day preliminary hearing. The Crown said it concluded there was no longer a reasonable likelihood of securing a conviction. Stalker, commander of the 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in Edmonton, was arrested in 2015 on 10 charges, all relating to one complainant. The charges relate to offences alleged to have occurred between 1998 and 2007 while Stalker, 41, was a mentor with an army cadet group in Edmonton.

Source: CBC News November 04, 2016 17:21 UTC