Another adjournment for P.E.I. school guidance counsellor accused of sex crimes with minor

The case against a P.E.I. teacher and school guidance counsellor has been adjourned in Charlottetown provincial court for the second time.

Bethany Jean Toombs, 41, has been charged with sexual assault, invitation to sexual touching and sexual interference — all involving a minor.

Toombs was listed as a guidance counsellor at East Wiltshire Intermediate School in Cornwall at the time the charges were laid. Her name has since been removed from the school's website.

The Public Schools Branch has said it cannot comment on cases before the courts. However, the agency has told CBC News that it is co-operating fully with the investigation, and that it is procedure to place staff charged with such offences on leave. 

No information about the victim's identity or Toombs' connection to that person has been revealed in court. Even when it is, it cannot be shared in the media due to a publication ban put in place to protect the victim.

Toombs is also facing a fourth charge of allowing a youth to use cannabis contrary to P.E.I.'s Cannabis Control Act.

Lawyer represented Toombs in court

To date, Toombs has not entered a plea or specified whether she wants her case to continue in provincial court or go to the Supreme Court of P.E.I.

The accused did not appear in court in person at her first appearance on Oct. 28 or at her second appearance Monday, but was represented by her lawyer Chris Montigny.

In both instances, Montigny told the court they were waiting on disclosure — the sharing of evidence used to build the case against Toombs — from the Crown before proceeding.

On Monday, Crown attorney Chris White said there were some "technological impediments" in accessing some evidence collected but he said he believed it was being resolved.

Toombs' next court appearance is Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. in Charlottetown provincial court, with Judge Nancy Orr presiding.