Eastern Shore man headed to trial on charges of luring, sexually abusing girl

An Eastern Shore man will go on trial next May on allegations of luring and sexually abusing a girl.

Sawyer Gillis, 29, of Upper Lakeville, Halifax County, was arraigned in Dartmouth provincial court in December 2025 on two counts each of sexual assault and sexual interference and one count of child luring. Police later added a charge of possessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material, also known as child pornography.

The offences were allegedly committed between January 2019 and October 2025. The identity of the complainant is protected by a publication ban.

Defence lawyer Jordan Richard entered not-guilty pleas for Gillis last month and returned to court Wednesday to confirm the trial dates.

Judge Jill Hartlen scheduled the trial to begin May 21, 2027, and also sit June 17 and June 18. Lisandra Naranjo Hernandez is prosecuting the case.

Gillis was arrested in October 2025 and released on an undertaking to a police officer. The undertaking was replaced in December with a bail order that was amended in February to include one surety and a $1,000 pledge.

Gillis cannot have any contact with the complainant or be within 25 metres of her home, school or workplace.

He’s prohibited from having any firearms and cannot possess any device capable of connecting to the internet unless he’s supervised by one of two designated women.

In addition, he is banned from communicating with or being around anyone under the age of 16 and from attending parks, playgrounds, daycares, school grounds, swimming pools, rinks, community centres or any other places where children are likely to be present. There are exceptions to those two conditions if he’s in the “immediate physical presence of an adult who does not have a criminal record.”

Gillis also faces a charge of breaching his release conditions last April 11. He has yet to enter a plea on that matter.