Musican charged with sexual violence against children gets bail

Chris Carter must abide by a list of conditions, including that he stay away from people under 18 and not access social media

As protesters gathered on the sidewalk outside provincial court in downtown St. John’s, a local musician charged with eight crimes of sexual violence against children was released on bail Wednesday afternoon.

Chris Carter attended his bail hearing by phone from the correctional facility in Bishops Falls while his lawyer, Kathy Moulton, attended in person in St. John’s.

Carter, known as a musician and a former bar owner in St. John’s, has not yet entered pleas to the charges, which involve alleged acts of sexual violence against two children between January 2018 and May 2021: sexual assault, invitation to sexual touching, sexual interference and sexual exploitation. Carter spent the first couple of weeks after his June arrest attempting to arrange a bail plan, which later fell through. Moulton filed a request for a bail hearing late Tuesday afternoon.

As with all sexual assault cases and cases involving minors, there is a publication ban protecting the identity of the young complainants in this case, which includes news reports and social media postings, among other publications. In court Wednesday, Moulton asked Judge Jacqueline Brazil to ban Carter’s name from publication as well, presenting her with a screenshot of a public Facebook post that reportedly divulged his private information.

Prosecutor Jennifer Colford submitted a ban on Carter’s name wasn’t necessary. Brazil made no changes to the current publication ban but warned anyone who might publish information related to the case that they could face legal consequences for violating a court-ordered ban.

Colford consented to Carter’s release, with a number of conditions. He is ordered to pay a $1,500 cash deposit, reside at a specific address and not leave the province, have no contact with four specific people and anyone under 18 unless allowed by court order, and is banned from possessing a mobile communication device or using social media.

Carter has not yet entered pleas to the charges but has chosen a trial by judge and jury in Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court if a preliminary hearing determines there is sufficient evidence to send him to trial. That hearing is scheduled for January.

Carter’s court dates have consistently been met with protests outside Atlantic Place, which houses provincial court in St. John’s, with people carrying signs denouncing sexual violence and offering support for those victimized by offenders.