Ex-Crown attorney had signed cash bond for woman facing drug charge

A federal Crown attorney in Manitoba had signed a cash bond to help secure bail for a woman being prosecuted for a federal drug offence, CBC News has learned.

That came weeks before Richard Smith, 54, was fired on June 3 from the federal prosecutions service, according to court documents.

Acting chief Crown attorney Michael Foote would not confirm any link between the two events, but he confirmed Smith's dismissal in a brief interview on Friday. 

Smith is currently facing criminal charges after Winnipeg police arrested him in connection with his alleged involvement with the same woman.

Court documents show the 24-year-old has been involved with the city's sex trade and was charged with cocaine trafficking in December 2014.

Federal Crown attorneys are tasked with prosecuting the vast majority of drug crimes in Canada.

While there's no indication Smith was involved with prosecuting the woman's case, court records show in April that he posted a $500 bond to help secure her release, after she was re-arrested for a suspected assault.

Earlier this year, the woman briefly listed Smith's Winnipeg address as her own on a bail form, records show.

Police have charged Smith with unlawfully obtaining sexual services from the woman between July 2015 and January. He is also accused of unlawfully abetting her by "willfully encouraging" her to breach a court-mandated curfew.

He is presumed innocent and the allegations have not been proven. His next court date is Aug. 29.

Smith refused to answer the door of his home when visited Friday afternoon by a CBC reporter. He shook his head to indicate "no" and closed the curtains.

Smith is bound by conditions to not contact the woman or go near where she works or lives, avoid "known" sex-trade areas of Winnipeg and to not go to any city "body rub" parlours. He's also prohibited from loitering near elementary, junior or high schools.

Cash bond called 'problematic'

Foote said he could not discuss the specifics of Smith's firing, or whether it was directly related to the police investigation.

He did say a Crown attorney signing a cash bond for an accused person was "problematic."

"I think that it would be safe to say that our office would have a problem with a Crown attorney signing a cash bond for an accused person," Foote said.

The lawyer for the woman at the centre of the allegations against Smith could not be immediately reached for comment. Court documents show the woman recently pleaded guilty to the drug charge and is set to be sentenced in the fall.