GUELPH – A Wellington North man charged with sexual assault and threatening to kill a cop has pleaded guilty in Guelph court to a lesser assault offence.
Arthur resident Deven Latchford, 45, was charged by police last year in connection with a June 19 incident at the Arthur Foodland.
According to a police press release at the time, Wellington County OPP responded to the local grocery store after a call reporting that a bystander had “subdued” Latchford after he was “observed sexually assaulting” someone.
Latchford stood in Guelph court on April 24 and pleaded guilty, with the assistance of defence lawyer Perrin Valli, to common assault.
In this case, that’s known as an “included” offence — or another offence that results from the same incident.
With the prosecution’s consent, Latchford essentially pleaded guilty to committing common assault, rather than an assault with a sexual context.
His recent appearance was brief, and there were no established facts about what happened last year read aloud in court — that will come nearer to sentencing.
It’s expected the defence will seek a conditional discharge (finding of guilt without a registered conviction), and the Crown a year of probation.
Meanwhile, Latchford is entering a wellness court, dedicated to those who are deemed mentally ill or developmentally disabled, where a treatment plan will be devised and he can be connected to community service providers.
He is expected to return to court for sentencing at a later date, after the treatment plan is complete.
