A Nova Scotia man accused of confining and sexually assaulting a teenage boy will face a judge and jury in March 2014.
David James LeBlanc, 47, faces seven charges including forcible confinement, sexual assault, sexual assault causing bodily harm, kidnapping, administering a noxious substance, uttering a death threat and breach of an undertaking.
The charges were laid in connection with the alleged incident at a cabin in Upper Chelsea, about 130 kilometres southwest of Halifax.
Last week, provincial court Judge Gregory Lenehan said there was enough evidence to go to trial and ruled that LeBlanc would be tried by a judge and jury.
Police began their investigation last September after a woman reported that a barefoot boy arrived at her home chained at his wrists and ankles.
The RCMP have said they believe the 16-year-old boy was held captive for 10 to 14 days before he was able to escape.
LeBlanc’s partner, Wayne Alan Cunningham, was also accused in the case. He died in northern Ontario while evading police.
A third man is charged with sexual assault and communicating for the purpose of obtaining sexual services from a person under 18.
LeBlanc’s lawyer has asked that prior to trial, he gets to ask jury members about their knowledge and possible bias in the case due to the national media attention.
A date is scheduled for this fall for a judge to make a decision.
“In a lot of cases, the Crown and defence will have discussions ahead of time and an application may not be necessary if the Crown consents, for instance,” says defence lawyer Mike Taylor.
“I can’t think right now that there would be any great advantage or disadvantage to opposing that so I’ll have to do some thought process and I’ll talk to Mr. Taylor but it may well be that it will proceed without an opposition,” says Crown attorney Lloyd Tancock.
Seven days have been set aside for the trial in Bridgewater Supreme Court, beginning on March 3.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Kelland Sundahl
