Final 2 sexual assault charges against ex-pastor of Ontario megachurch withdrawn by Crown

All sexual assault charges have now been stayed or withdrawnagainst Bruxy Cavey, aformer pastor of themegachurch The Meeting House in Ontario.

Two charges were withdrawn Wednesday in a Hamilton court because the Crown said there was no reasonable prospect of conviction. The other charge wasstayedin July because it had taken too long for the trial to begin.

"Mr. Cavey is innocent of these charges," his lawyers, Megan Sacard and Arash Ghiassi, said in a statement following this week'scourt decision.

The personwho hadreported Cavey to police made false allegations, said his lawyers.

"But even on the version of events they gave to police, nothing criminal happened," the statement said.

Cavey was in court when JusticeFabiano Mendes accepted that the charges were withdrawn.

He agreed to a 12-month peace bond, which means he cannot have contact with the person who made the allegations or be within 50 metres of theirwork or residence.

"The two have not been in contact for several years in any event and he has no intention of evercontacting them," his lawyers said.

Cavey resigned as pastor in 2022

The allegations became public inMarch 2022 when The Meeting House posted online it had received allegations of sexual misconduct against Cavey,then a 57-year-old primary teaching pastor who hadworked at the Oakville-based church since 1996.

Caveyposted an apology onhis website for what he called an"extramarital affair,"acknowledging the power and influence he held as a spiritual leader.

He resigned soon after and was charged with one count of sexual assault in June 2022. That chargewas withdrawn this summer.

Hamilton police also charged him in December 2023 with two more counts of sexual assault.

The trial date was supposed to be set on Wednesday, as Cavey intended to plead not guilty. Instead, the Crown decided to not pursue the charges, citingissues aboutwhetherconsent was given.

The Meeting House closes

The Anabaptist church announced on its website that as of last weekend,it will no longer be operating under the nameThe Meeting House.

It was unable to continue its regular programming because its insurer wouldn't renew its abuse liability insurance, or employment practices liability coverage,CBC Hamilton previously reported.

"It's really hard for us to be able to get together, at least for our in-person gatherings," said Pastor Chris Chase in a YouTube video from June 23.

"It's really hard to be able to do that because we can't guarantee protection for staff, we can't guarantee protection for volunteers, vulnerable people, including children and youth."

The Meeting House recently posted online thatnew"church communities" will be launching under the banner BIC Church Collective in cities acrossOntario, including Hamilton.

"We are encouraged by the reminder that the church is not an organization or institution, but a community of people, following Jesus together," it said on its website.