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Port Moody Mayor Rob Vagramov, who took a leave of absence in March after being charged with sexual assault, is back on the job.

Vagramov told reporters on Monday afternoon that “what was initially pursued as a scary indictment, has since been starkly reduced to a summary matter with Crown, and my legal counsel is now exploring a resolution that would not involve a trial at all.”

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Vagramov began a voluntary leave of absence on March 29, a day after the B.C. Prosecution Service announced he had been charged with sexual assault for an incident alleged to have taken place in Coquitlam in 2015.

On Monday, Vagramov said he took the time off to “be able to focus my time and energy on preparing a defence to the legal case.”

He said that now the case was being handled as a summary matter, he had time to refocus on his work at city hall.

“This matter has been an absolute nightmare for myself, my partner and my family,” said Vagramov, who earns $111,000 a year as mayor. “At the same time, my absence has been a regrettable burden on city council.”