KENTVILLE, NS - A Kings County tennis instructor facing sex-related charges involving children will be back in court in January for election and plea.
Aaron Byron Cumberland, 27, who according to court documents is currently of no fixed address and staying in a Halifax hostel, was present in Kentville provincial court on Nov. 27. His matters were adjourned to Jan. 8 for election and plea and for Cumberland to get disclosure from the Crown. The court ordered publication bans to protect the identities of three alleged victims.
Cumberland faces two counts of communicating with a person under the age of 18 by means of telecommunications for the purpose of facilitating the commission of an offence under Section 163.1 of the Criminal Code. This section relates to child pornography.
He faces one count of communicating with a person under age 16 by means of telecommunications for the purpose of facilitating the commission of an offence under Section 152 of the Criminal Code. This section relates to invitation to sexual touching.
In addition to the three luring charges, Cumberland is also charged with inviting a person under age 16 to touch him for a sexual purpose and making sexually explicit material available to a person under age 16.
It’s alleged that Cumberland committed the offences in Kentville between March 1 and June 30, 2016; and in Windsor between March 1 and June 30 and between Nov. 2 and 5, 2017. The charges have not been proven in court.
Cumberland was released from custody on his own $1,000 recognizance with conditions following a Nov. 20 appearance in Halifax provincial court.
His release conditions include not possessing any electronic device capable of accessing the Internet. He was ordered to deposit his passport with the Lower Sackville RCMP. Cumberland is to permit the police to search for electronic devices if they attend his place of residence to check compliance. He is to have no direct or indirect contact or communication with anyone under the age of 18 unless the contact is incidental.
Cumberland turned himself in to the Halifax Regional Police on Nov. 17 after the RCMP released his name and photo, asking for assistance from the public to locate Cumberland.
Cumberland, a former Kentville resident, was named Tennis Nova Scotia’s Coach of the Year in 2013. He worked as executive director of the CANgaroo Athletic Association, which put on tennis skill development sessions, including school programs, in several Kings and Hants county communities.
