Windsor Junction man’s bail on sexual abuse charges varied

DARTMOUTH, N.S. — A Windsor Junction man accused of luring and sexually abusing two boys got his bail conditions varied Tuesday with the Crown’s consent.

Robert Edward List, 57, was arrested in mid-July, when police executed search warrants at his home and other addresses in the Halifax Regional Municipality in an investigation into the creation of child pornography.

During the searches, officers located and seized photo studio equipment, electronic devices that allegedly contained child pornography, firearms and ammunition.

List allegedly lured and molested one boy between January 2006 and December 2009 and another between December 2020 and July of this year.

The 19 charges laid in that investigation include four counts of luring a child for the purpose of committing a sexual offence, one count of sexual interference, and two counts each of sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon, invitation to sexual touching, making child pornography, possessing child pornography, making sexually explicit material available to a child, and permitting prohibited sexual acts by a child in his household.

The identities of the complainants are protected by a publication ban. One of them is now an adult.

Police also filed nine firearms-related charges against List following the searches: four counts of careless storage of a firearm, three counts of contravening storage regulations, and single counts of unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of a prohibited device knowing its possession is unauthorized.

Got bail Aug. 21

A Dartmouth provincial court judge ordered List released from custody Aug. 21 on $105,000 bail with strict conditions negotiated by defence lawyer Pat Atherton and Crown attorney Scott Morrison.

On Tuesday, Morrison agreed to a defence request to change two of the bail terms. List’s nightly curfew now begins at 8 p.m. instead of 6 p.m., and he is allowed to drive if his surety is in the vehicle as well.

The rest of List’s bail conditions remain the same.

He must live with his surety at an address in Franey Corner, Lunenburg County, and wear an electronic ankle bracelet so police can monitor his whereabouts. The electronic monitoring also includes video surveillance cameras installed on the exterior of the Lunenburg County home so police can see who enters or leaves the residence.

List is not allowed to use the internet, possess any devices capable of accessing the internet, have any firearms, and possess or access any pornographic material.

He is also prohibited from having contact with the two complainants or their family members and being within 300 metres of their homes, schools, workplaces or churches. He cannot associate with anyone under the age of 16 or attend parks, playgrounds, community centres, schools or other places where children are likely to be present.

In addition, List is banned from engaging in any activities, volunteer work or employment that would place him into contact with persons under the age of 16 unless he receives prior written permission from the court. In addition, he cannot date or begin a common-law relationship with anyone who has children or looks after children unless he first informs that person of his release conditions.

Last month, List was charged with breaching one of his release conditions. Police allege the offence was committed Sept. 14 and 15 in Franey Corner.

List was arraigned on that charge Sept. 19, but the Crown did not seek to revoke his bail.

All the charges against List will be back in court Oct. 26 for election and plea.