Former ski coach Charest released as he appeals sex-related convictions
MONTREAL — Former national ski coach Bertrand Charest will be released from prison as he appeals his sexual-assault convictions.
Quebec Court of Appeal Justice Martin Vauclair authorized his release today.
Charest was found guilty in June 2017 of 37 of the 57 sex-related charges he faced involving nine of the 12 women who had accused him of crimes that occurred more than 20 years ago.
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Charest is appealing the guilty verdicts as well as the 12-year sentence he received in December 2017.
In arguing for his release, Charest said there had been a significant change in his situation after the Crown conceded that, for a variety of reasons, 20 of the 37 guilty verdicts cannot stand.
Charest has been behind bars since his arrest in 2015. Vauclair concluded Charest presents no risk, but he imposed a number of conditions on his release.
The Canadian Press
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