Former girlfriend files suit against Scott Young and city of PoCo

Gary McKenna - The Tri-City News Published: April 23, 2009

Former Port Coquitlam mayor Scott Young, the city of PoCo and its chief administrative officer are being sued by Young's former girlfriend. In court papers filed April 3 in the B.C. Supreme Court , Colleen Preston, the plaintiff, is seeking damages for "sexual assault, sexual harassment, assault, battery, intimidation, trespass, trespass to chattels and invasion of privacy." The court documents said the incidents took place between Jan. 1 2007 and April 4, 2007. Tony Chong, the city's chief administrative officer, is also included in the lawsuit. Preston alleges Chong did not "take steps to assist and protect the plaintiff when she sought his assistance" in relation to the case. Chong was not available for comment and a city spokesperson said there would be no comment on a matter that was before the courts."I am not going to comment on it," said Kathleen Vincent, the city's director of legislative and administrative services. "It is a legal matter and I am just not going to comment on it."

Calls to the former mayor and to Preston were not returned. Young, who held the city's top job until last November, pleaded guilty last year to two counts of assault and one count of breach of an undertaking. Four other charges — criminal harassment, break and enter with intent and two counts of breach of an undertaking — were stayed by the Crown. He was given a one-year conditional sentence to be served in the community, followed by 18 months of probation. His sentence included 60 hours of community service. In the November civic election, Young decided not to seek another terms as mayor, choosing instead to run for one of the six available council seats. He placed 10th with 2,178 votes.More to come.