The trial for a Central Okanagan RCMP officer accused of sexual assault has been pushed to next year.
Chad Lincoln Vance, a member of the RCMP’s Southeast District General Investigation Section, was charged in June 2019 for allegedly sexually assaulting a person in Kelowna in July 2015.
Following the charge, Vance was initially suspended with pay. On Friday, Aug. 28, the E Division’s media relations officer, Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet, confirmed he is now suspended without pay but couldn’t provide specifics as to when that change was made. Shoihet said his duty status is subject to continuous review and assessment.
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The four-day trial, initially slated to begin Aug. 31, is now scheduled to begin Feb. 16, 2021.
Circumstances surrounding the allegations have not yet been revealed.
An out-of-town judge and Crown prosecutor will be assigned to the case to avoid conflict due to Vance’s RCMP connection.
Vance also recently faced a charge for a 2018 assault but the Crown stayed that matter in November 2019.
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