Calgary

Paxton found not guilty of assault on teenager

A Calgary man has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

A Calgary man has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

Dustin Paxton, 30, was accused of unlawful confinement, sexual assault and assault of the girl between January and March of 2009.

Court of Queen's Bench Justice Robert Hall judge found Paxton not guilty on all three charges on Thursday.

The victim, who is now 19, was dating Paxton and described him as controlling and violent. Her name is protected by a publication ban.

But Paxton's defence lawyer, Jim Lutz, questioned the teen's recollection of the alleged abuse. She also admitted during testimony that she was a heavy user of methamphetamine at the time.

Paxton was arrested in August 2010 in connection with a brutal, long-running series of alleged attacks on his former roommate, who also cannot be named.

Those assaults are alleged to have occurred between December 2008 and April 2010 in Calgary and Regina, until the man was dropped off at a Regina hospital.

Paxton faces several charges related to those allegations, including aggravated assault, forcible confinement, sexual assault, sexual assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon.

His trial on those charges is set to begin Sept. 27.

A third trial in December involves separate alleged attacks against four people, including the roommate.