Lethbridge prosecutor cited by law society for 'inappropriate relationship' with complainant

A former Lethbridge prosecutor must appear before the law society on allegations he engaged in an "inappropriate relationship" with a woman who was the complainant in a criminal case.

The Law Society of Alberta conduct hearing involves two citations against Darwyn Ross.

"It is alleged Darwyn C.B. Ross engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a complainant in a criminal matter while acting as a Crown prosecutor and that such conduct is deserving of sanction," reads the first citation listed on the law society website.

The second citation alleges that Ross "failed to act honourably and with integrity in a manner that would bring the administration of justice into disrepute."

A date for the hearing has not yet been set.

Ross left Crown's office in 2022

The law society would not expand on the allegations and would not provide a timeline for when the offences are alleged to have occurred.

"We cannot share anything that is not posted in the citations as the process is private and confidential until it reaches a public hearing," wrote a spokesperson for the law society in an email.

According to the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service, Ross's employment in the Crown's office ended in August 2022. 

The prosecution service said it had "no further comment on this matter."

No comment from Ross

CBC News asked the Lethbridge Police Service whether Ross was under investigation. The police service said it is not investigating Ross. 

Ross did not respond to a request for comment.

The law society shows Ross as "suspended." Until he left the Crown's office in 2022, he had been practising in Alberta for 20 years. 

He has no other disciplinary history with the law society. 

The senior Crown lawyer prosecuted several high-profile cases, including the Lisa Freihaut murder and the Hutterite teacher who abused students.