Arrest warrant issued for former priest facing sex charges

An arrest warrant has been issued for a former Catholic priest facing sex-relatedchargesinvolving a teenager in northern New Brunswick in the 1980s.

Charles Picot, who is in his late 60s, failed to appear in Bathurstcourt on Monday to answer to three charges ofgross indecency and indecent assault.

Picot, who has twice been convicted of similar charges and acquitted once, was not present due to a medical problem, the courtroom heard.

The judge issued thearrest warrant, but decided to hold onto it until Picot's next court date at the end of April.If Picot does not show up for court again at that time, the judge will send the police after him.

In 1993, Picot pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. He served seven months in jail.

In 2010, Picot was charged again with indecent assault, involving a 13-year-old boy in Dalhousie in the 1970s.

Picot was acquitted because the judge had doubts about the complainant's facts.

The Crown appealed, citing the trial judge's consideration of uncorroborated testimony, and won a new trial.

But Picot appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada, whichruled the acquittal should stand.

Picot was charged again in 2011 with indecent assault involving another 13-year-old boy in Dalhousie. He was convicted and sentenced to 11 months in jail.

Picot left the diocese of Bathurst in 1993. He is not a practising priest.