Retired Mountie Timothy Coxon pleads guilty to assaulting ex-spouse

A retired Mountie has pleaded guilty to assaulting his former common-law spouse. Timothy Coxon, 47, was charged with four counts of assault almost three years ago, while still serving as a member of the RCMP. 

Colette Beliveau sat in domestic violence court in Regina Thursday listening to Coxon confess he assaulted her.

"There was a lot of things that I was experiencing and just to see him again was hard for me," said Beliveau.

Coxon pleaded guilty to one of the counts of assault, while the Crown dropped the other three.

He begins a domestic violence treatment program in November and he will be required to check in with a judge monthly to provide progress reports.

Unlike other courts in Saskatchewan, domestic violence court allows an offender to enroll in a treatment program if he or she qualifies, admits guilt and is not facing jail time.

Once Coxon's treatment has been successfully completed over an unspecified period of months, a judge will give him a reduced sentence.

Beliveau says she believes Coxon has used his knowledge of the justice system to delay the case in the courts and ultimately obtain a softer punishment in domestic violence court.

"I'm trying to sort it out why there is a difference because to me violence is violence and I have a hard time reconciling that just because you're in a relationship with somebody that you get different treatment," said Beliveau.

While the process frustrates her she said, "I understand domestic violence court is trying to rehabilitate these people. I get that."

Timothy Coxon did not speak to reporters after his court appearance Thursday.

Case bounces through courts, lasts years

The case has bounced from provincial court in Indian Head, Sask. to Queen's Bench in Regina and has now ended up in domestic violence court. 

"I feel that a three year process is way too long of a time for a victim of domestic violence and just to be put through adjournment after adjournment re-victimized me over and over again," said Beliveau.

Coxon was originally charged Jan. 21, 2013 with four counts of assault alleged to have occurred between August 2009 and December 2012. 

In 2013, his case was adjourned seven times in Indian Head provincial court before a preliminary hearing was set for April 1, 2014. 

Coxon later had the preliminary hearing waived and chose to have the case set for pre-trial at the Court of Queen's Bench in Regina on May 22, 2015.

But on May 21, 2015, the day before the pre-trial, Coxon's lawyer sent a notice of re-election to have the case returned to provincial court; this time to domestic violence court in Regina.

Coxon's case was heard in domestic violence court three times before the court ordered a domestic violence assessment on August 6, 2015 to determine if he met the criteria for the program.

He pleaded guilty Thursday to a single count of assault alleged to have occurred between October 2011 and December 2012, and agreed to start treatment.

Survivor calls for change in domestic violence cases

Beliveau says that finally hearing a guilty plea is a relief, but because of the domestic violence court system, she won't be able to fully move on until Coxon completes his treatment and receives his sentence.

She said she feels that the justice system leaves domestic violence victims in the dark.

"We need change in the process. We need to not re-victimize victims. We need to make it easier for victims to come forward and safer for victims to come forward," said Beliveau.

Domestic violence has been on the radar of the provincial government. Earlier this week, the province's minister of justice announced the province will begin reviewing deaths that result from domestic violence. 

Saskatchewan has the highest rate of domestic violence deaths in Canada. From 2000 to 2010, Saskatchewan had 58 domestic homicides.

We need change in the process. We need to not revictimize victims. We need to make it easier for victims to come forward.- Colette Beliveau, victim of domestic violence

"I hope the minister of justice looks at how domestic violence proceeds through the court system," said Beliveau. "I would hope that there would be some limitations on time frames as to how long it can go on because in my case, when this is all said and done, it is going to be well over three years and that is a long time for a victim to continue to hold onto this."

She says there have been many days she wishes she didn't start the court process, but she continued because she had the support of family, friends and her victim support worker.

RCMP can't confirm if internal investigation launched

CBC news asked the RCMP if an internal code of conduct investigation had been launched when Coxon was charged in January 2013.

In an email it said it was "unable to confirm this information as of right now."

On Nov. 28, 2014, the RCMP established a new Code of Conduct and process to support the amended RCMP Act. It allows misconduct to be processed internally "in a more responsive, timely and effective manner, at the lowest appropriate level."

Prior to that, internal misconduct investigations were launched only when cases in the public courts were concluded.

Beliveau said it is upsetting to know that Coxon may have been able to retire before an internal RCMP investigation was launched.

CBC asked RCMP for the number of allegations of domestic violence filed against Mounties each year and the discipline those officers have received, but was told an access to information request would have to be made.