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(file photo/battlefordsNOW staff)
RCMP investigation

Case for man facing child pornography charges now moving to trial

Oct 19, 2022 | 5:10 PM

The case for a Marshall, Sask., man facing 11 charges, including sexual assault and distribution of child pornography, is now moving to trial at the Court of King’s Bench in Battleford.

Joseph Sproull, 41, is charged with one count of possession of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography, three counts of sexual assault, three counts of sexual interference, and three counts of making available child pornography.

Court documents indicate the alleged offence occurred between Aug. 26, 2020, and March 12, 2021.

Sproull was granted bail with conditions following a hearing in Lloydminster provincial court in September 2021.

Crown prosecutor Chris Browne confirmed the Office of the Attorney General approved a direct indictment for the case to move to the Court of King’s Bench for trial.

“The Attorney General authorized the direct indictment, which allows us to proceed without a preliminary hearing,’ he said.

Sproull’s trial date is still to be set. He is next scheduled for a private pre-trial conference later in October.

A publication ban is in effect in the case to protect the identity of the complainants.

The charges in the case were initially laid following a police investigation last year involving a residence on First Avenue East in Marshall where a home-based daycare was operating at the time. The Government of Saskatchewan Ministry of Education suspended the daycare licence on July 16, 2021 and advised parents of the change.

angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW

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