Four breach-related charges have been stayed against a Saskatoon lawyer who was scheduled to stand trial this month for allegedly encouraging his client to breach his court-ordered conditions.
Dean Harold Mattison was charged in 2015 with two counts of being a party to a breach of recognizance that prevented his former client from possessing a cellphone or being in bars or other establishments that serve alcohol. He faced another two counts of counselling the man to commit those breaches.
The charges stem from 2012, when Mattison allegedly asked his then-client to meet him in a Saskatoon pub to sign a legal document — even though his client told him his conditions prevented him from being in bars — and allowed the man to use his cellphone, which he was also prevented from doing.
The allegations came out during the former client’s bail hearing. The young man was convicted of breaching his release conditions in relation to the bar meeting with Mattison, but he was granted an absolute discharge, which means he doesn’t have a criminal record.
No specific reasons were given for the charges against Mattison being stayed. Charges are often stayed when the Crown believes there is no reasonable likelihood of conviction. The Crown has up to a year to re-open the case should more information come to light.
