Dustin Paxton dangerous offender hearing will go ahead

Adangerous offenderhearingagainst a man convicted of torturing his former roommate is to begin this summer.

Dustin Paxton wasfound guilty by a Calgary judge last February of beating and sexually assaulting his former roommate.

The judge ruled that Paxton put the man's life in danger when he starved, wounded, maimed and disfigured him nearly three years ago.

The roommate was dumped at an emergency room in Saskatchewan in 2010. He was unconscious and emaciated.

Paxton had also been found guilty of assault and uttering threats against a different man.

After months of delay, a dangerous offender hearing has been scheduled forJuly 15. It's expected to last four weeks.

Crown prosecutor Joe Mercier says the Alberta Attorney General's Department gave permission for the hearing to go ahead.

Paxtons defence lawyer, Jim Lutz, iscontesting the dangerous offender designation, saying his client does not fit the description.

If Paxton is deemed a dangerous offender, he can be kept in jail indefinitely.