Man charged in sexual assaults granted bail

(Updated) The Ancaster man facing 20 sexual assault charges is no longer behind bars.

Sean Hewson was granted bail this afternoon after a hearing in Milton. He has to live with his parents in Ancaster and can leave only to go to work, for a medical emergency or if he is accompanied by one of his immediate family members.

He was released into the care of his parents and brother who have committed $50,000 in surety if he breaches his bail conditions. The list of conditions is lengthy: Hewson can have no access to Internet outside of work, he must report to the police station weekly, he cannot be around children unless he is accompanied by an immediate family member and he cannot have any contact with the alleged victims or their families.

A sixth victim was named in court today and two additional charges were laid. That brings the total to 20 counts.

At the time of his arrest, Hewson was working at the YMCA and the Red Cross. He has since been suspended by both of those organizations. If he finds a new job, his bail conditions state that he cannot work with children under age 16.

Some of the alleged victims were members of the Burlington Sailing and Boating Club where Hewson was a coach when the alleged incidents took place between 2004 and 2009. The complainants were between ages 10 and 16 at the time. Hewson also worked in leadership roles at other sailing clubs and was a lifeguard with the City of Burlington.