Spear gun among items seized from home of man accused of sexual assault, forcible confinement

A spear gun, torch, staple gun, golf clubs and a hammer were among the items entered as evidence Monday at the trial of a Sault Ste. Marie man charged with a myriad of offences, including six counts of assault with a weapon.

City police seized them from Gary Levar's Patrick Street home on Oct. 1, 2017, two days after most of the offences are alleged to have occurred.

He pleaded not guilty to 16 charges - 15 of which involve one complainant.

The charges also include sexual assault, administering a noxious substance, robbery and two counts each of assault, uttering a threat and forcible confinement.

The 16th and final charge was for failing to comply with a recognizance that prohibited him from possessing weapons.

A court order prohibits reporting any information that could identify the complainant.

Superior Court Justice Edward Gareau heard testimony from two members of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service involved in the investigation that began on Sept. 30 after the complainant came to the station.

Const. Trevor Pluss, then a detective in the criminal investigations unit, said the woman was crying, and there were marks or sores of some kind on her face when he spoke to her.

"Her hair appeared to have been cut off," the four-year officer told assistant Crown attorney Heidi Mitchell, describing it as in various lengths - "some shorter than others."

During cross-examination by defence lawyer Ken Walker, he said he doesn't recall seeing any wounds on the woman's arms, but she was wearing a sweater or long-sleeved shirt.

He told the court the complainant showed signs of physical and emotional pain, recalling she talked about a sore tongue, a spear gun to her hip area and being burnt on various parts of her body.

Const. Shawn Cyr, a forensic identification officer, photographed the two-storey residence and seized the numerous items the prosecution filed as evidence during the first day of the trial.

He found a pair of black-handled scissors on a couch in the first-floor living room.

The 14-year police officer said he located a spear gun, loaded with a dart, on a dresser next to the bed, in the second-floor master bedroom.

A torch, pipe, grey purse, a grey hoodie with red sleeves and other clothing, four golf clubs, a yellow electric staple gun, and a hammer also were seized when officers went to the home with a search warrant.

The hammer was hanging from a headboard in the bedroom.

Gareau also viewed a Cherry Sprite bottle containing a small amount of a clear liquid and a baggie with a small amount of a brown substance that were in the bedroom.

The trial continues on Tuesday.

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