N.S. serial sex offender dies of natural causes in federal prison

A Nova Scotia inmate with a history of sex crimeshas died of natural causes at Dorchester Penitentiary, according to a release from the federalprison in New Brunswick.

Donald Duane Bartlett died while in custody ofthe medium security sectoron Tuesday.

The release late Wednesday saidBartlett was in Correctional Service Canadacustody while on remand for outstanding charges that were laid in Nova Scotia.

A spokesperson for Dorchester Penitentiarywould not say why Bartlett, 51, was being held at the federal prison on remand.

In January 2019,Bartlett was charged with12 counts of sexual assault and 12 counts of sexual interference that are alleged to have occurred between 1986 and 1992 in Dartmouth, N.S.

He pleaded not guilty last August and had elected trial by judge alone in Nova Scotia Supreme Court.

Bartlett hada criminal record going back 29 yearsinvolving sexual assaults of children ranging in age from babies to 11-year-olds.

The release said Correctional Service Canada will review the circumstances of Bartlett's death.