Duane Rhyno, lawyer charged with sex crimes, opts for trial

A Nova Scotia lawyer accused of human trafficking and sexual assault has pleaded not guilty and opted for a trial in provincial court.

Duane Rhynos lawyer entered the pleas on his behalf during a brief appearance in court in Kentville Monday morning.

Rhyno was arrested in October at the end of a three-month investigation. This morning, the Crown announced it was laying two additional charges against Rhyno. Both involve communicating with others to sell sexual services.

All charges involve the same 25-year-old woman his alleged victim whose name is banned from publication.

Judge Alan Tufts said finding two weeks of court time will be difficult. He adjourned the matter until January to allow court staff time to search the calendar for available days.

The Crown has also agreed to loosen Rhynos travel restrictions. When he was first arrested, he was ordered to stay in Nova Scotia and surrender his passport. The Crown has now agreed to let him travel, providing he gives advanced notice of where he is going and when he will return.

"So we took into account the concern obviously with serious charges that somebody might take flight," prosecutor Dan Rideout said outside court.

"But at the same rate, the lack of any concern besides that general concern, we were happy with the fact that we could get travel plans."

The case is due back in court on Jan. 20.