Chris Windeyer
Northern News Services
Friday, January 29, 2007

HALIFAX, N.S. - Nova Scotia Crown prosecutors earlier this month stayed sex-related charges against a former teacher in Iglulik.

Shawn Henry Baybutt, 37, had been accused of sexual assault and sexual touching of a child under the age of 14.

A stay of charges means prosecution has been stopped but could be resumed within a one-year time limit.

The allegations arose after Baybutt was in contact with a 13-year old girl through an Internet dating site.

While visiting family in Sydney, NS, Baybutt met the girl in a hotel.

"(The Crown) found that she portrayed herself as a 19 year-old," said Baybutt's Halifax-based lawyer, Joel Pink. "Further I think that she was not truthful to the police, to her mother, to the medical staff throughout the investigation."

Evidence, including a scan of his computer's files, showed there was no evidence Baybutt is a pedophile, Pink said.

Baybutt lost his teaching job in Iglulik as a result of the charges and is appealing the decision, though Pink didn't know the status of that case.

The Cape Breton Post newspaper quoted the girl's family as saying they hoped the charges could be renewed before the one-year deadline expires.

The Post reported that the girl is receiving counselling and was found unable to testify.