Long-term sex offender to appear before court in March

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on January 15, 2026.

newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com

Austin Palmer, a long-term offender, will next sit in court March 6 as he awaits sentencing for his second sexual offence in six years involving minors.

Last January, Palmer, then 25, pled guilty to one count of having sexual contact with a child – one of three charges laid by Medicine Hat police in March 2024.

At that time, courts heard Palmer was living with a local family with two children and touched a young male’s genitals on two occasions and solicited photos from a teenaged girl.

Palmer also underwent an assessment that would deem him a long-term or dangerous offender upon his release, or potentially be placed under increased police supervision when his sentence is complete.

He was also charged with luring a child and breaching conditions of his probation stemming from a 2019 charge of child luring.

Palmer’s next court appearance is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. in Medicine Hat.

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