Defence lawyer says Crown accepted that the medical treatment in question was not of a sexual nature

A nurse practitioner who faced several sexual assault charges stemming from his involvement as an athletic trainer with local sports teams, pleaded guilty Monday to a single count of simple assault involving 11 complainants.

Tyler Mancuso, 34, was given a conditional discharge and placed on probation for 12 months — a sentence jointly recommended by the Crown and the defence.

Ontario Court Justice Melanie Dunn heard the offences occurred between Jan. 1, 2008 and Aug. 31, 2014.

Prosecutor David Kirk said Mancuso conducted sports and work-related physical examinations for a study he was doing.

The examinations were outside the confines for accepted practices, with certain touchings that were not part of regular examinations, the assistant Crown attorney said.

City police charged Mancuso with seven counts of sexual assault on June 20, 2013, after seven males alleged they had been touched in a manner that would be sexual in nature during physical examinations.

Five further charges, alleging that he inappropriately touched five males for sexual purposes between 2011 and 2014, were laid on Oct. 8, 2014.

Kirk told Dunn the lawyers reached a resolution following two judicial pre-trials in the Superior Court of Justice.

He reminded Dunn that she had heard the evidence at a preliminary hearing and the legal issues that had been presented.

Given the circumstances and the length of time that had passed, the resolution was appropriate, he said, adding Mancuso still has an outstanding matter before the College of Nurses and "they may well take further action against him."

The sexual assault charges will be withdrawn next month in the Superior Court, the Crown and defence lawyer Bruce Willson indicated.

When she accepted the joint submission, Dunn noted it had been recommended by two senior counsel.

"I have no doubt they have considered all the aggravating and mitigating factors."

During his probation, Mancuso must abstain from providing direct medical services, unless in an acute medical emergency, and abstain from providing medical services for athletes or sports teams.

He must also attend any recommended counselling and programs, and was ordered to provide a DNA sample for the national database.

Outside the courtroom, Willson said his client will have no criminal record after he completes probation and "hopefully some day he can come back to being a nurse."

Calling it "a minor situation," he said Mancuso didn't follow proper procedures, but the Crown accepted the medical treatment was not of a sexual nature.

Mancuso also pleaded guilty to breach of a recognizance for conducting a physical examination of a 19-year-old male without having a third party present, as required by his bail document.

He will return to court Nov. 24 for sentencing on this charge.

EDITOR'S NOTE: SooToday does not allow comments on court stories