Northwoods Inn owner found guilty of sexual assault

The owner and manager of the Northwoods Inn and Suites has been found guilty on one count of sexually assaulting a former tenant.

John Pontes, 75, was facing two counts of sexually assaulting and extorting a woman, whose name is under a publication ban. On Thursday, a judge found him guilty on one of the sexual assault charges, but acquitted him on the other. Pontes was also found not guilty of extortion in the case.

After his arrest last year, police accused him of extorting tenants for sexual favours.

Pontes will be sentenced early in the New Year.

He still faces charges of extortion, sexual assault and uttering death threats against another woman, which are set to go to trial in February.

In 2014, Pontes was ordered to pay nearly $45,000 dollars in damages for sexually-harassing a female employee at the hotel after she filed a complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission (SHRC).