A former northern New Brunswick priest has died just weeks before he was scheduled to stand trial for alleged sexual crimes against two boys nearly 35 years ago.

Charles Picot, former parish priest of Mt. Carmel, East Bathurst, died in Montreal Thursday at the age of 69 of complications from cancer.

Bishop Accountability/The Inquiry/YouTube
Bishop Accountability/The Inquiry/YouTube
loading...

Picot was to stand trial May 10 and 11 in Bathurst on charges of indecent assault, sexual assault and gross indecency for acts allegedly committed against two underage boys in the early 1980's.

The proceedings had been postponed several times because of his health.

Picot was convicted twice of sexual assault in 1993 and 2011. He was acquitted of similar charges in another trial in 2010.

Between 1975 and 1993,  Picot served as a priest in parishes across northern New Brunswick, including Dalhousie, Campbellton, Lamèque and Bathurst. In 1993, he served seven months in jail for two counts of sexual assault and one of indecent assault. He was pastor of Mt. Carmel from 1980 to 1987.

Mt-Carmel East Bathurst, 1986/Google Earth
Mt-Carmel East Bathurst, 1986/Google Earth
loading...

Picot died without responding to allegations of four counts of assault, two of sexual assault and two other acts of gross indecency on minors.

His funeral is scheduled for April 15 in Montreal.

 

More From