A sexual assault charge has been stayed for a young man accused of raping a teenage girl at a Pitt Meadows rave in 2010.
Neil McKenzie, spokesman for the Crown, told ctvbc.ca that a stay of proceedings against Colton Ashton McMorris was granted Tuesday morning after prosecutors determined that the likelihood of conviction is not high.
"The case had been assigned to a very experienced prosecutor who thoroughly assessed the evidence that was available," McKenzie said.
"The available evidence doesn't support us proceeding with charges."
McMorris was charged after an investigation into the alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl at a September 2010 rave called "Another Night in Bangkok" in rural Pitt Meadows. Mounties believe the victim was assaulted while partygoers watched and took photos, which were later shared on Facebook and by cell phone.
RCMP spokesman Sgt. Peter Thiessen told CTV News that the police investigation continues, despite Tuesday's stay.
"It certainly affects our officers in that it's somewhat frustrating, but they clearly understand the challenges that the Crown has around making these kind of decisions," he said.
One conviction has been handed down in connection with the incident. Earlier this month, a 17-year-old boy was sentenced to 12 months of probation after pleading guilty to one charge of distributing obscene material. The teen admitted that he took and shared photos of the alleged rape because he got caught up in the moment and didn't think his friends would believe what he'd seen.
The stay of charges against McMorris means that only one man is still facing charges in connection with the rave. Dennis John Allen Warrington is accused of making and distributing child pornography.
Investigators believe as many as 12 people watched the assault, but have said a "code of silence" amongst witnesses at the party stymied their work. More than a year ago, police said they believed at least one more man had sexually assaulted the young victim, but no other suspects have been charged to date.
After news of the alleged rape went public, the victim became the target of name-calling and tasteless comments on a Facebook group devoted to casting doubt on her story. A handful of fellow students at her high school eventually relented and wrote letters apologizing for their behaviour.
The girl's father says she lost virtually an entire year of school because of the ordeal and is now taking night classes in an effort to graduate with her friends.
