Priest Faces Seven Sex Charges from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia Parishes

Cape Breton Post
July 17, 2012

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2012-07-17/article-3033497/Priest-faces-seven-sex-charges-from-Newfoundland,-Nova-Scotia-parishes/1

CORNER BROOK, N.L. (CP) — Seven more sex-related charges have been filed against a 74-year-old Roman Catholic priest from western Newfoundland.

George Ansel Smith already faces 62 charges against him stemming from the time he served parishes in western Newfoundland.

The most recent charges laid Tuesday include counts of gross indecency, indecent assault and unlawful assault with intent to commit an indictable offence.

All of the charges involve young boys and date back as far as the late 1960s.

Most of the alleged offences took place in western Newfoundland communities, although some of the newer charges allege incidents in Nova Scotia.

Smith wasn't in provincial court in Corner Brook to hear the latest charges read out.

His lawyer, Tom Williams, waived his client's right to a preliminary inquiry and elected to have his client tried by judge alone in the higher court.

The seven new charges will be called again when Smith is arraigned on the other charges in Supreme Court in Corner Brook in September.