LLOYDMINSTER – A 40-year-old man who was living at a home-based daycare when he was charged with 11 sexual assault and child pornography offences has elected to be tried by judge alone.
Defence Harvey Neufeld told the court Monday that Joseph Sproull wants a judge alone trial at Battleford Court of Queen's Bench and a preliminary hearing first in North Battleford Provincial Court. Judge Michelle Baldwin adjourned the matter to April 18.
Sproull was arrested in July 2021 and released on bail two months later. There is a ban on publication naming the community where he is now residing.
Saskatchewan Integrated Child Exploitation Unit (ICE) and Maidstone RCMP had raided the home-based daycare on 1st Avenue East in Marshall July 14, 2021. Marshall is approximately 19 kilometres east of Lloydminster. Police say they found images of unidentified children being sexually assaulted by a man. The police investigation determined that the home-based day care was operating where Sproull lived. Investigators alerted the Government of Saskatchewan Ministry of Education the same day. The ministry suspended the day care’s licence two days later and advised all parents.
RCMP say that Sproull uploaded child pornography videos online and the images depicted three young children being assaulted. According to court documents, the alleged incidents occurred between Aug. 26, 2020, and March 12, 2021, at or near Marshall. The RCMP didn’t release the ages of the victims to protect their identity. There is a ban on publication of their names and anything that would identify them.
The charges against Sproull haven’t been proven in court.
