CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - A familiar voice is off the airwaves after pleading guilty to assault in a case involving a Tim Hortons employee.
Eric MacEwen’s Saturday night program on CFCY has been cancelled, station manager Rick MacLeod told The Guardian.
MacEwen, 72, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to giving the teenage coffee shop worker an unwanted hug in the men’s bathroom.
MacLeod said he didn’t know about the case until fielding a call from a reporter at about 10:30 that morning.
By 10:45 a.m., MacEwen had been notified his show was done.
“We parted ways instantly,” the manager said.
MacEwen was not an employee of CFCY and had only been in the building about half a dozen times over the last five years, MacLeod said.
“He has his own production studio and all he would do is he would voice track his own show and then he would just send the audio.
“He had a syndicated program and that’s it.”
In a statement, CFCY said MacEwen’s actions don’t reflect the station’s values and standards.
“We take our broadcasting responsibilities seriously and strive to provide quality local programming that reflects the values and community standards of all Islanders.”
MacEwen had been slated to face trial on a sexual assault charge, but pleaded to the lesser offence of assault.
Crown attorney Lisa Goulden said the victim had been cleaning the bathroom on Aug. 1 when the radio host entered. She left, then went back in when he was finished.
He followed her back in, Goulden said, identifying himself to the victim and then hugging her.
The victim felt trapped and unsafe, and later quit her job, the prosecutor said.
MacEwen received a suspended sentence with one year of probation, during which time he is to have no contact with the victim.
The sentence also includes 30 hours of community service. MacEwen must pay $10 to the Upper Room Hospitality Ministry for every hour not completed.
MacEwen was previously charged with committing an indecent act in 2010. He pleaded not guilty and the charge was later stayed.
Related: Charlottetown radio host pleads guilty to giving teen unwanted hug in Tim Hortons bathroom
