David James McHale, 62, is charged with five counts of sexually touching children under the age of 16.
Image Credit: Contributed/RCMP
February 26, 2016 - 12:42 PM
KELOWNA – A Peachland man facing numerous charges of sexual assault and sexually touching minors was in Kelowna court Friday morning as lawyers grinded their way through pre-trial discussions.
David James McHale, 62, is charged with five counts of sexually touching children under the age of 16, four counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault by a male on a male. He has been in custody since his arrest last February and has appeared in court almost every month since.
He has not yet entered a plea or chosen judge or jury trial. He appeared before judge Ellen Burdett via video Friday morning and she ordered the case move forward.
A publication ban forbids disclosure of why the case has been delayed so many times but early last year the RCMP issued an appeal to the public asking for any other possible victims to come forward.
Police said at the time McHale was known to them but due to privacy concerns would not disclose the number of alleged victims.
His next appearance is scheduled for early April at which time he is expected to enter a plea.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infonews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2016