After walking into a Corner Brook courtroom on Tuesday morning Mark Thompson turned his head away as he spoke with lawyer Robby Ash.
When he sat down in the prisoner’s box Thompson put his head down in a further effort to avoid the camera.
Thompson is charged with sexual assault, sexual interference and providing liquor to a minor.
A publication ban is in place to protect the identity of the victim, who is identified only by their initials in a court information sheet. The sexual interference charge says the alleged victim is under the age of 16.
Thompson was arrested at about 9 p.m. on June 29 following an investigation that was started by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary the previous day. The publication ban was put in place during a weekend court appearance.
At the start of Tuesday’s appearance, Ash, who appeared as counsel for the bail hearing but anticipates representing Thompson on the charges, requested an extension of the publication ban to cover Thompson’s name. He said Thompson is of the opinion that if his name is published everyone will know the identity of the alleged victim.
Crown attorney Adam Sparkes the said the two are not related and he had no way of determining if that would occur.
Judge Wayne Gorman said publication bans are extraordinary orders, because the public has a right to have access to the courts.
The primary method that people have of understanding what occurs in the court is through the media, he said.
Related stories:
Defence submits Thompson no longer on a criminal path
Thompson gets probation for vandalizing police officer’s vehicle
“So therefore, limiting the press and their ability to publicize things is an extraordinary circumstance that should not be entered into lightly,” said the judge.
Gorman said it is routine in case like this for complainants to have their names protected.
He said that could encourage people to make complaints without fear of their name being publicized.
In Thompson’s case, at least this stage of it, Gorman said there was not sufficient information to persuade him to extend the order to his name.
“I can’t say that publicizing Mr. Thompson’s name will identify the complainant. The press will have to make, I guess, its own decision in relation to that.”
Thompson was released on a recognizance after a surety was secured and agreed to a $2,000 promise to pay should he break the conditions of his release.
Other conditions include that he have no contact with his alleged victim or other witnesses and that he have no contact with anyone under 16, unless it is a member of his family or he’s in the presence of a responsible adult.
He’s also not allowed to be in any public park or swimming area where persons under 16 are present or could reasonably expect to be present. Or around any day care, school ground or playground, unless in the presence of a responsible adult.
He’s also not allowed to work or volunteer anywhere that would put him in a position of trust to anyone under 16 or to use the Internet to visit any social network sites.
Tuesday’s appearance came just two years after the last time Thompson appeared in provincial court when he received a suspended sentence and probation for vandalizing the personal vehicles of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer in Pasadena in July 2012.
Previous to that he had been involved in a pellet-shooting spree in 2011 in Corner Brook and was charged with impaired driving in April 2013.
Back then the now 25-year-old, presented himself to the court as a changed person.
That he had found Christianity, distanced himself from people in his past and dealt with a problem with drugs and alcohol.