A University of Lethbridge professor charged with sexually assaulting a student, was back before provincial court Thursday morning. Nicholas Hanson, 37, was not in court, but, at the request of his lawyer, Willie deWitt of Calgary, an agent asked the courts to adjourn the matters to Sept. 29.
The Lethbridge Police Service said a 23-year-old woman reported that she had been sexually assaulted by her professor in December 2014. She made the report on Nov. 19, 2015.
An investigation concluded the student attended an off-campus event on Dec. 13, 2014, where she was alone in a room with a man, and was subsequently sexually assaulted.
The victim, who is now 24 years old, is no longer a student at the U of L.
The U of L said it is conducting an internal investigation and is committed to providing an environment in which sexual violence is not tolerated.
The release from the U of L said Hanson has been suspended with pay, pending the outcomes of the court proceedings and the internal investigation. The university said Hanson has been removed from campus and removed from all contact with students.
Hanson is charged with one count of sexual assault. He was released from custody with conditions, including no contact with the complainant.