B.C. MLA Pat Pimm charged with assault

VICTORIA – Pat Pimm, a member of British Columbia's legislative assembly, has been charged with one count of assault.

The province's Criminal Justice branch announced the assault was alleged to have occurred in Dawson Creek, B.C., on Aug. 13, but is releasing few other details.

Pimm was due to make a first appearance in provincial court in Dawson Creek on Sept. 13.

A special prosecutor was appointed last month after Pimm revealed the unspecified allegations and also announced he would quit the B.C. Liberal caucus and sit as an independent while the matter is before the courts.

Pimm, who represents the riding of Peace River North, was first elected in 2009 and appointed agriculture minister in 2013 but left the post after being diagnosed with colon cancer.

He announced last November that he would not seek re-election in the May 2017 provincial election.

The branch says special prosecutor Michael Klein assessed and approved the charge against Pimm and will conduct the prosecution.