Charlottetown lawyer, former PC Party candidate and staffer charged with sexual assault
CBC
A partner at a Charlottetown law firm who also used to be a P.E.I. Progressive Conservative candidate and party spokesperson has been charged with sexual assault.
Michael Drake's case made a first appearance in Georgetown provincial court on Thursday. Drake himself did not appear, but his Nova Scotia-based lawyer appeared virtually. Drake was previously arrested and released on conditions, so he is not in custody.
The court heard there is still outstanding evidence that has not been passed on to the defence, including a matter that will likely need to go before the Supreme Court, which could take some time.
He is facing a single charge of indictable sexual assault. Because of the severity of that charge, he'll be able to choose whether he wants his case to stay in provincial court or be escalated to the Supreme Court of P.E.I.
A publication ban is in place to protect the victim's identity.
Drake is a lawyer and partner at McInnes Cooper in Charlottetown.
According to a profile that has since been removed from the firm's website, his practice focuses on litigation, employment disputes, judgment enforcement and judicial review proceedings.
"A partner in our Charlottetown office has been placed on leave as a result of being charged with sexual assault. The alleged offence is unrelated to his work with McInnes Cooper," the firm said in an email to CBC News.
"While there is a judicial process ongoing, we will have no further comment. We remain committed to ensure we conduct ourselves in a safe, respectful manner and hold ourselves to the highest standards of integrity."
Drake was the lawyer hired by the province last year to conduct a review into the conduct of the former Murray Harbour town councillor who posted a controversial sign on his property and was removed from council.
Drake also has past affiliations with the Progressive Conservation Party of P.E.I.
He served as the chief of staff when the party was Official Opposition from 2015 to 2017. He has also acted as an official spokesperson for the party and ran as a candidate in 2015, losing to Liberal Heath MacDonald in Cornwall-Meadowbank.
Party leadership told CBC News in an email that Drake currently holds no position with the party.
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