The Crown dropped a sexual assault charge against Banff councilor Hugh Pettigrew and agreed to a common law peace bond.

The Crown agreed to the common law peace bond in a Canmore court appearance Wednesday.

A judge may issue a common law bond when there is sufficient information to warrant a reasonable apprehension of a breach of the peace.

Pettigrew released a written statement saying he was pleased with the deal.

“I am grateful for a positive outcome on the false allegations made against me,” he said.

“I have always maintained my innocence of this charge and the charge against me is now withdrawn.

“We accepted a joint peace bond resolution (and now) my family and I can move on from this terrible ordeal.

“I want to express my deepest thanks to my family for their unwavering faith in me and to all members of my community who have shown continued support throughout this process.

“As I move forward, I remain committed to serving our community with integrity and dedication. I will continue to focus on our shared goals and work for the betterment of my community in Banff.”

Pettigrew was indicted on January 30, 2024.

He continued to serve as a Banff councilor throughout the investigation.