Sex offender back in custody

A convicted sex offender who was released from custody earlier this week after a mixup at the Burnside jail was arrested again Thursday night.

Robert Thomas Crowe, 22, appeared in Dartmouth provincial court Friday.

Crowe faces new charges of sexual assault causing bodily harm and forcible confinement, both stemming from an incident June 27.

The new charges came after police reinterviewed Crowe's alleged victim and talked to her about her injuries, Crown prosecutor Paul Carver said.

Sheriffs didn't get Crowe to the Dartmouth courthouse on time on Monday, when he was originally to face charges from the June 27 incident, including sexual assault and breach of probation.

Judge Brian Gibson released him without conditions, saying Crowe couldn't legally be held any longer.

Crowe's lawyer, Eugene Tan, said Friday that the new charges almost amount to double jeopardy for his client.

An internal justice department investigation found that human error was to blame for the failure to transfer Crowe on Monday, Justice Minister Ross Landry announced Friday.

"This type of mistake should not happen," Landry said. "I have just received this information and immediate action is being taken."

Landry said a series of checks and balances was not properly followed. He said performance shortcomings will be addressed with two staff, and an additional review of the administrative process for court listings will be completed.

"We take these matters very seriously," said Landry. "We have worked very hard throughout the Department of Justice to ensure the right training, equipment and procedures are in place at all of our correctional facilities. Now we are making sure they are followed."

Arguments about whether Crowe can be held in jail will be heard next week.

Crowe, of Cole Harbour, was convicted of sexually assaulting two teens in 2007 and served an 18-month jail sentence.