Sexual assault charges against Dwayne Roth, the former CEO of business operations for the McKay Métis Group, have been withdrawn.
In July 2020, Roth announced he had stepped away from the role.
Provincial courts scheduled a five-day jury trial in St. Paul on one charge of sexual assault for June 6, 2022.
The trial was connected to allegations from May 2017 at or near Lac La Biche County, but the Crown withdrew the charges.
On what was scheduled to be the first day of his trial, Roth said Justice Kraus elected to call no evidence and found him not guilty.
“Very shortly before my trial was to start, the woman who brought the false allegation changed her story against me and admitted to the prosecutor that she had not told the truth under oath at the Preliminary Inquiry in my case.”
Roth said he barely knew his accuser and had little contact with her.
Speaking on June 8, he described the accusation as “impossible”, “unbelievable”, and “nonsense”.
“I am vindicated. The accusation was a lie. The accusation was designed to hurt me, and my family. Despite being a lie, it achieved its desired effect. Two years of pain, poverty, tears, agonizing, legal wrangling, and lost sleep.”
Roth said he spent 30 years involved in Métis and First Nations interests and politics.
While his family remained at his side, he said “the process was the punishment”.
“I lost my job as an oilsands business executive and lawyer promoting Indigenous governance. I lost opportunities to represent other people, either in law or in any other professional capacity. My wife accepted menial jobs just to put food on the table and to afford a modest Christmas.”
He said it might take him years to recover.
“Google never forgets, and this accusation will be a stain on my digital footprint that lasts forever.”
With the charges dropped, Roth said he knows the identities of those behind the allegations from 2017.
“I know that there are people behind the initial allegation. In fact, the part who was alleged to have been assaulted was not even the party who brought the charge forward. I know who they are. They know who they are. I will not, and cannot mention their names today, at my lawyer’s advice. However, I put them on notice that they will be held responsible.”
Roth added pursuing those responsible could impact him financially.
“I know that will cost me more. In time, in money, in suffering. But our country is one built on the rule of law and systems that justice to be meted out.”
He said he might consider police action, but not right away.
