Pat Pimm is pictured in Fort St. John, B.C., on January 16, 2013.Deborah Baic/The Globe and Mail
Pat Pimm, the MLA for Peace River North, has been charged with assault on his wife.
A former member of B.C. Premier Christy Clark's cabinet, Mr. Pimm has already announced he will not seek re-election in 2017 and stepped aside from the B.C. Liberal caucus in August after his arrest in Dawson Creek. He is currently sitting as an Independent MLA
Although the statement on Monday from the Criminal Justice Branch does not identify the victim, court documents state Mr. Pimm is alleged to have assaulted Jody Cooper on Aug. 13.
Vancouver lawyer Michael Klein was appointed as special prosecutor to assess the potential for charges on Aug. 16, after police imposed conditions on Mr. Pimm's release after his arrest.
Special prosecutors are appointed to handle cases when there is any potential for real or perceived influence in the justice system.
Mr. Pimm was first elected to the legislature in 2009 with the B.C. Liberals after serving for 12 years on Fort St. John city council and appointed agriculture minister in 2013. He left cabinet in 2015 to seek treatment for colon cancer.
In 2011, Mr. Pimm was arrested in connection with a domestic incident involving his wife and a special prosecutor was appointed to review that matter. The MLA resigned from caucus but no charge was laid and he rejoined the Liberals. Special prosecutor Mark Jetté announced at the time that he wasn't recommending charges because there was not a substantial likelihood of a conviction.
Justine Hunter