THUNDER BAY - A hearing to determine if a man convicted of aggravated sexual assault and sexual interference should be designated as a dangerous offender has been adjourned.
The sentencing hearing for Ricky Lionel Keewasin was originally scheduled to take place on Wednesday in a Thunder Bay Courtroom. As part of the hearing, Justice Danial Newton was to consider submissions from Crown attorney, Rob Kozak and defense attorney, Kevin Matthews, regarding a dangerous offender designation for Keewasin.
However, Matthews, acting as Keewasin’s counsel on behalf of attorney, Francis Thatcher, who is on medical leave, said after meeting with Keewasin, he is no longer in a position to proceed on consent to the dangerous offender hearing.
Matthews requested an adjournment until Apr. 23, 2018, to allow more time to meet with Keewasin. According to Matthews, Thatcher, who is still acting as defense counsel for Keewasin, said there is the possibility that new evidence may be submitted.
Both Kozak and Newton agreed to adjourn the matter until assignment court to select a new hearing date. Newton stressed at the opening of the hearing on Tuesday that this is a very serious and complicated matter, and he informed Keewasin on Wednesday that he has the right to take as much time as he needs to meet with counsel before proceeding to the dangerous offender hearing.
Keewasin was first charged on Oct. 26, 2013 with aggravated sexual assault and sexual interference and was convicted on Aug. 30, 2016. A publication ban is in place on details of the case to protect the identity of the victim.
Following his conviction, the crown submitted an application for a dangerous offender evaluation and Keewasin was examined by a forensic psychiatrist.
Keewasin was convicted of aggravated assault in 2009 and he served four years and 28 days in custody.
