Miles Jarvis Clark 'relieved' to see sexual interference charge stayed

Charges have been stayedagainst a Calgary man who had been accused of sexual interference aftera four-year-old boy told his parents he was fondled at a private day home in Rocky Ridge.

• MilesJarvisClark accused of sexual interference of boy, 4, at Calgary day home

The accused, MilesJarvisClark, is "relieved,to say the least," according to his lawyerAlain Hepner.

"He's been vilified in the press and by friends," Hepner said, adding thatClark's wife had to stop operating her dayhome because of the accusation.

Clark was charged in February with sexual interference with a child under 16 based on the allegation from the young child.

At the time, it was allegedthat Clark,who lives in the home but was not a childcare worker, had committed the offence whenhe and the child were alone.

• 3 sexual assault suspects sought after woman attacked

Alberta Justice spokeswomanMichelle Davio said the charge was stayed because the circumstances of the case had changed, but she wouldn't go into detail.

"At the time charges were laid, the Crown had a reasonable likelihood of conviction; recent events have led the Crown to conclude that there is no longer a reasonable likelihood of conviction on this file," Davio said in an email.

The stayed charge means the case against Clark has been effectively suspended and will be dropped in a year's time.

It is possible for stayed charges to be revived within a year, but that is rare.