An Orangeville resident who is a member of Peel Regional Police has won a stay of prosecution on several charges, laid against him back in June 2004, because of delays in bringing the case to trial.

Eugene Dopp, 46, appeared in a Newmarket court Wednesday morning for a Charter Section 11(b) application with respect to four sexually related charges, including possession of child pornography. S. 11(b) says everyone has a right to be tried "within a reasonable time."

Although a "stay" in practice usually means the charges would not be revisited, such a ruling can be overturned, and the charges can be brought back.

A ban on publication of the details of Mr. Dopp's proceedings remains in place.

Mr. Dopp has been under suspension from the police force with pay since the date of the charges. He has no charges outstanding.

In another recent case related to Dufferin residents, the Ontario Court of Appeal overturned a stay of prosecution against former Mono resident Ned Maodus, who had faced a variety of charges laid by Dufferin OPP in March 2002.

The stay had been granted by Justice Terrance O'Connor in February 2005, roughly three years after the alleged

offences. In its reasoning, the appeal court ruled that Mr. Maodus had himself contributed to the delay.

Mr. Maodus is also a police officer, a member of a senior drug squad in Toronto.