Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Baker Lake (June 12/02) - The Crown has filed a stay of proceedings in a child pornography case involving a former RCMP officer.

The stay was filed in the Nunavut Court of Justice June 7 in Iqaluit.

Paul Richer is a former non-commissioned officer in charge of the Baker Lake detachment of the RCMP.

On Nov. 25, 2001, a group of RCMP officers arrived in Baker to relieve Richer of his duties and return him to Iqaluit.

He was placed on administrative duties pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

The investigation led to Richer being charged with being in possession of child pornography.

The 14-year RCMP member subsequently resigned from the force.

"After carefully reviewing all the evidence and circumstances concerning the case, the Crown elected not to proceed," Said Maureen McLellan, a spokesperson for the federal justice department in Edmonton.

The stay gives the Crown up to a year to gather new evidence and continue with the case.