Mike Smith sexual assault charge dismissed

A provincial court judge dismissed the sexual assault charge against actor Mike Smith on Thursday, October 1, after Crown prosecutors offered no evidence as his scheduled trial was about to begin in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Smith, known for playing Bubbles on Trailer Park Boys, had pleaded not guilty to one count arising from an alleged 2017 incident. The dismissal was not a finding on whether the alleged conduct occurred. Crown prosecutor Bryson McDonald said prosecutors decided that week, after an ongoing assessment of the evidence, that the prosecution standard had not been met. He did not provide specific reasons. The standard, McDonald said, required a realistic prospect of conviction and that continuing the case be in the public interest. He said prosecutors had initially anticipated calling three witnesses: the complainant, another civilian and a police officer. McDonald declined to say whether the complainant was willing to testify and said he would not discuss private communications. A reporter raised the possibility that she was uncomfortable testifying, but McDonald did not confirm that account.