A Toronto judge has found a Saskatoon man not guilty of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in a downtown Toronto hotel room.
The verdict came down last month following a five-day trial in that city. Ryan Pellerin, 33, was arrested in October 2013 and charged with sexual assault and overcoming resistance by choking.
He was acquitted of the sexual assault charge, Toronto’s Superior Court of Justice confirms. The choking charge was withdrawn at trial.
Police said Pellerin was 31 years old when he met the girl over “Whisper,” a smartphone app where people anonymously share secrets. He was said to be posing as a 22-year-old.
On Oct. 21, 2013 the complainant reported that Pellerin picked her up from school and took her to a hotel in Toronto’s Yonge Street area. He was arrested that same day.