SAULT STE. MARIE - If sexual assault charges against a suspended Sault Police officer continue to a trial, he will face an out-of-town justice and Crown Attorney.
Sgt. Marc Dubie did not appear in person during his latest court date on April 29, but was represented by his defence counsel Bryan Badali.
Dubie is facing two counts of sexual assault after an investigation by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) concluded there was sufficient evidence to proceed in relation to incidents involving two women in December of 2022.
The charges have yet to be tested in court and Dubie is considered innocent unless proven guilty.
Crown Attorney Lindsey Santerre noted that if the case ends up at trial it will be a conflict matter, requiring an out-of-town Crown and judge because Dubie is a local police officer and should not be tried by a local prosecutor or have his case heard by a local justice.
In May 2022 — seven months before the alleged assaults occurred — Dubie was quoted in a Sault Police news release announcing that sexual assault survivors can now use the force's online tool to report the crimes.
“Accepting sexual assault reports online is solely aimed at providing the victim with the most efficient and thorough service possible,” Dubie said in the release. “Online reporting allows victims a confidential means to report this crime and will allow us to assign the appropriate officer to investigate more quickly.”
Lincoln Louttit, a spokesperson for the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, said it is department policy to not comment on the status of its officers. When asked, in general, what the status of an officer would be who is facing such charges, Louttit said the officer would likely be suspended with pay.
A recent CBC investigation found that more than one-third of allegations leading to officer suspensions since 2013 involve gender-based violence including sexual assault, domestic violence or sexual harassment.
Dubie's matter is expected to return to court on May 13.
