June 4 Edmonton Less than a week […]

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When

1981-06-04

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June 4 Edmonton Less than a week after the Pisces Spa was raided by police, Dr. Henry Toupin and Eric Stein, co-owners of the Pisces; manager John Kerr; and five men charged as found-ins, unexpectedly pleaded guilty before Provincial Court Judge C.H. Rolf during a hastily arranged late-afternoon court session. This action was undertaken without consultation with the other men who were charged, and was done after several community meetings during which many of the found-ins indicated that they were willing to fight the charges in open court. Judge Rolf sentenced Dr. Toupin and John Kerr each to a fine of $10,000 or a year in jail. The Pisces Spa itself was fined $20,000, and co-owner Eric Stein received a fine of $5,000 or six months in jail. The found-ins were sentenced to fines of $250 each or thirty days in jail. Toupin's lawyer Robbie Davidson appealed the sentence to the Alberta Court of Appeal, arguing that the fine was excessive. Soon after the trial, the Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons suspended the medical licence of Dr. Toupin, a neurologist, for six months for "unbecoming conduct"; after a review, this decision was upheld on September 11, 1981. (See also June 10, 1981; July 28–August 1981; and September 9, 1981.)

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September 9 Edmonton The Alberta […]July 28–August Edmonton Trials were […]June 10 Edmonton After plea […]May 30 Edmonton Police raided the […]

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Pisces Spa Edmonton

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Robertson Davies C.H. Rolf John Kerr Eric Stein Henry Toupin

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Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons Alberta Court of Appeal Provincial Court of Alberta

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"A Special Deal?" (editorial), Edmonton Sun, 7 June 1981, p. 10.Rae Hull, "Guilty Pleas 'Betray' Gays," Edmonton Journal, a.m. ed., 9 June 1981, p. B2 Gerald Hannon, "More Guilty in Pisces Trials but Court Lowers Owners' Fines," Body Politic, no. 77 (1981), p. 14 Gerald Hannon, "Guilty Verdict in Pisces Trial Discouraging Sign for Found-ins," Body Politic, no. 76 (1981), p. 11 Gerald Hannon, "Edmonton: Bath Raids Move West," Body Politic, no. 75 (1981), pp. 7–8 Carl Degurse, "Spa Bosses Fined $10,000," Edmonton Sun, 5 June 1981, p. 3 "Bawdyhouses: Public Sex and Sharks" (editorial), Body Politic, no. 75 (1981), p. 6 Cathie Bartlett, "Gay Health Spa, Operators Guilty: $45,000 in Fines," Edmonton Journal, a.m. ed., 5 June 1981, p. A1

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Alberta Court of Appeal

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