Doctor who sexually abused more than 2 dozen patients still doesn't have a date
Client: Ken Hoyt
Charge: Sexual abuse
Status: trial delayed due to COVID-19
Retired Calgary neurologist Dr. Keith Hoyte is still awaiting a sentencing date, after COVID-19 derailed his hearing in March, for sexually assaulting 28 patients.
Defence lawyer Alain Hepner appeared in court Thursday and said the fall schedule for Court of Queen’s Bench judges is still not, out so he adjourned Hoyte’s matter to the end of the month in hopes it will be ready then.
Hoyte, 72, pleaded guilty in January to sexually assaulting 28 patients, including a 17-year-old girl, going back to the 1980s.
He was to face a sentencing hearing March 30, but the coronavirus pandemic that severely restricted court proceedings forced that hearing to be adjourned.
Hepner appeared in criminal appearance court on behalf of his client to set a new date, but told Justice Suzanne Bensler none were available yet.
He indicated he and Crown prosecutor Rose Greenwood had received a message from Justice Jim Eamon’s assistant that his fall judicial schedule was not available yet.
Hoyte pleaded guilty in front of Eamon on Jan. 6, admitting a lengthy statement of agreed facts detailing how he took advantage of patients referred to him by fondling their breasts during examinations.
Many of those patients were referred to Hoyte for migraines, Greenwood told court at the time.
She said many of the women were confused as to why Hoyte would examine their breasts for headache-related ailments, but few felt confident in reporting him to the police until media reports emerged of him being charged in 2018 with sexually assaulting three patients.
Hoyte remains at liberty pending a sentencing decision.
Source: Calgary Sun