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A Mohawk College camp counsellor on trial for sex crimes involving a seven-year-old had his charges unexpectedly dismissed after the camper testified she forgot about the events until she had a “flashback” years later. 

The camper, now 14, was the only witness to testify Tuesday at what was supposed to be a four-day trial. After she finished, the court took a lunch break. The next witness was to take the stand in the afternoon. Instead, assistant Crown attorney Mark Dean asked the court to dismiss the charges against Chevaughn Adamson. 

The camper “is a well-meaning and credible witness,” Dean told Justice Michael Wendl. “But there’s no longer a reasonable prospect of conviction.” Dean said other witnesses scheduled to testify — two counsellors and the camper’s mother — would not be able to corroborate her evidence. “You made the right call,” Wendl told the Crown before dismissing the case. 

The Ontario Court of Justice judge was presiding without a jury. Adamson left the courtroom immediately with his father, Mohawk College’s vice-president academic Cebert Adamson, and defence lawyer Kaley Hepburn.

Kaley L. Hepburn was on cloud nine when she learned that she was named one of the top-rated Criminal Defence Lawyers in Hamilton, Ontario, by ThreeBestRated®. Following this, she was awarded the prestigious ThreeBestRated® award for 2022. “I’m thrilled and honoured to receive the award,” said Hepburn in joy.

How’s she awarded? ThreeBestRated’s expert review team conducted a rigorous 50-point inspection on all aspects of her practice to honour her with the award. The inspection process involves checking everything from reviews, ratings, reputation, history, complaints, satisfaction, trust and cost to general excellence. 

Defence attorneys Lauren Wilhelm and Kaley Hepburn had asked the judge for a sentence of probation on top of the time already served for the girl. "What happened on April 28 was a tragedy," Wilhelm said.

She said any arguing over her client's sentence did not negate the acknowledgement that "the death was needless." The crown sought a two-year sentence plus a two-year probation. Wilhelm emphasized that her client had pleaded guilty to robbery, not to the actions that killed Qasim-Rushdi. She said the "death was neither caused, intended nor foreseen by" her client.

Hepburn pointed to an unstable childhood for the girl, who was physically and sexually abused and placed in the care of children's aid as a younger teen. While in custody, she has completed more high school credits and been seeing a counselor. "She is very remorseful for her actions," Hepburn said. Wilhelm said she hopes her client can "move forward as an adult who is not going to find herself in front of a court again."

A 31-year-old sailing instructor accused of molesting six former students while they were boys has been released from custody under strict conditions, including house arrest. The number of sexual assault-related charges against Sean Hewson, of Ancaster, has grown to 20 after two more were sworn Thursday.

The details of the case that emerged at the bail hearing in Milton Thursday and the reasons for justice of the peace Paul Macphail’s decision cannot be shared because of a publication ban.