Man Attending Northborough Conference On Sex Assault Charged With Sexual Assault
UPDATE 4/2/15: According to the Worcester County District Attorney's office, indecent assault charges against Buttle were reduced to simple assault, and later dismissed after he agreed to pay $200 in court costs, attend an alcohol awareness program and write the victim a letter of apology.
NORTHBORO (CBS) – A Canadian man who was in town for a conference on the treatment of sexual abusers, was arrested Friday and charged with sexually assaulting a woman in Northboro.
Tyler Buttle, 31, of Inverary, Ontario pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Westboro District Court Friday.
He was held on $20,000 bail and ordered to surrender his passport.
Prosecutors say he met the woman while attending a conference on Thursday at the Best Western Royal Plaza in Marlborough.
According to the police report, the woman "obtained a ride" with Buttle later that night.
Prosecutor Julianne Richard says Buttle drove the woman from the Westender bar in Marlborough to a remote parking lot near the Pheasant Hill Community in Northborough, where he assaulted her.
Police say he reached under her dress, and touched her buttocks.
"The victim attempted to run away from the suspect, however the suspect ran after the victim, (led) her back to his vehicle, and assaulted her again," the police report stated.
Investigators say the woman escaped a second time, ran off, hid in some bushes, and eventually knocked on the door of a home on Main Street around 2 a.m. in the rain.
The homeowner called 911 and police tracked down Buttle back at the Best Western, where he was staying.
In court Friday, Buttle's attorney said "at best this is a very intoxicated alleged victim."
Buttle and the young woman had both been attending the MASOC/MATSA conference that ran from April 10-12 at the Royal Plaza, Marlboro titled: "Preventing Sexual Violence Through Assessment, Treatment and Safe Management."
The conference released a statement saying, "Unfortunately this incident shows that sexual violence can happen anywhere. In this case, we want to honor the courage of the victim to come forward and make a report."
Buttle was a vendor at the conference. He paid to attend to sell equipment for his company, Limestone, where he works as a Vice President.
Buttle is married with one child. He has no prior record.
The next hearing in the case is Wednesday.
WBZ-TV's Karen Anderson contributed to this report.
