Copperbelt MLA Haakon Arntzen convicted last month of indecently assaulting two girls has fired his lawyer.

The independent legislator also wants to postpone his sentencing date, perhaps to November. It had been scheduled for June 27.

The Arntzen matter was in Yukon Supreme Court Tuesday afternoon.

Crown prosecutor John Phelps told the court he heard last week from Whitehorse lawyer Ed Horembala that he had been dismissed as Arntzen's defence counsel.

Phelps told Justice Leigh Gower the Crown does not have an issue with a short adjournment of the June 27 scheduled sentencing date to provide Arntzen's new Edmonton lawyer with time to familiarize himself with the file.

The Crown, however, opposed the proposed date of Sept. 7, as being just too far down the road.

Phelps also mentioned to Gower the Edmonton lawyer has indicated there may even be a conflict with Sept. 7. That would mean he would not be available for the sentencing until at least November.

'The Crown is not opposed to the matter going to Tuesday the 28th at 1:30 to fix a new date for sentencing,' Phelps told the judge. 'The problem is, the Crown is opposed to a lengthy delay.'

Gower said he is unavailable for the month of July. He suggested Phelps explore with the Edmonton lawyer before next Tuesday the possibility of conducting the sentencing in the first week of August.

Arntzen, 58, continues to draw a full-time salary of $53,776 annually. He would do so even if he went to jail, if he does not resign, and is not removed from the legislature in a majority vote of the Yukon Legislative Assembly.

As he left the courtroom Tuesday, Arntzen declined comment on his future as an elected representative, or what he has told his constituents about his plans.

Asked if he'd contemplated whether to resign or retain his seat, Arntzen replied: 'I have contemplated it, and the answer is there is no answer yet.'

He also declined comment about why he dismissed his former lawyer.

The estranged Yukon Party member left that caucus and decided to sit as an independent after charges were laid in the spring of 2004.

Arntzen was convicted May 13 of three counts of forcing himself on two girls over a number of years, from the time they would eight or nine and into their teen years, between 1972 and 1980.

The assaults included fondling the genital area and breasts, and other aggressive sexual behaviour, the court heard last month during testimony of the two complainants, whose identities are protected by law.

Arntzen testified he did not commit any indecent assaults on the girls. However, Gower found he could not believe the first-term MLA's testimony because he was in a state of denial, given the evidence before the court.

The opposition parties have called for Arntzen's resignation, questioning his ability to represent his constituency.

Newly-elected Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell, who lost to Arntzen in Copperbelt in the 2002 territorial election by a slim margin, has said Arntzen has not been able to represent the riding effectively.

Aside from registering a yea or nay vote, the last time Arntzen said anything during question period or committee of the whole discussions in the legislature was Dec. 18, 2004, according to Hansard, the chamber's official transcript.

For a large part of 2004, after the charges were laid, Arntzen was on medical leave.

Premier Dennis Fentie said the matter involving his former caucus member is going through due process, and has rejected any discussion about the MLA's future in the legislature beyond that. The legislature has the authority to fire an MLA.

Under the Criminal Code of Canada, those convicted of criminal offences have 30 days from the day of sentencing to file an appeal.

The independent legislator also wants to postpone his sentencing date, perhaps to November. It had been scheduled for June 27.

The Arntzen matter was in Yukon Supreme Court Tuesday afternoon.

Crown prosecutor John Phelps told the court he heard last week from Whitehorse lawyer Ed Horembala that he had been dismissed as Arntzen's defence counsel.

Phelps told Justice Leigh Gower the Crown does not have an issue with a short adjournment of the June 27 scheduled sentencing date to provide Arntzen's new Edmonton lawyer with time to familiarize himself with the file.

The Crown, however, opposed the proposed date of Sept. 7, as being just too far down the road.

Phelps also mentioned to Gower the Edmonton lawyer has indicated there may even be a conflict with Sept. 7. That would mean he would not be available for the sentencing until at least November.

'The Crown is not opposed to the matter going to Tuesday the 28th at 1:30 to fix a new date for sentencing,' Phelps told the judge. 'The problem is, the Crown is opposed to a lengthy delay.'

Gower said he is unavailable for the month of July. He suggested Phelps explore with the Edmonton lawyer before next Tuesday the possibility of conducting the sentencing in the first week of August.

Arntzen, 58, continues to draw a full-time salary of $53,776 annually. He would do so even if he went to jail, if he does not resign, and is not removed from the legislature in a majority vote of the Yukon Legislative Assembly.

As he left the courtroom Tuesday, Arntzen declined comment on his future as an elected representative, or what he has told his constituents about his plans.

Asked if he'd contemplated whether to resign or retain his seat, Arntzen replied: 'I have contemplated it, and the answer is there is no answer yet.'

He also declined comment about why he dismissed his former lawyer.

The estranged Yukon Party member left that caucus and decided to sit as an independent after charges were laid in the spring of 2004.

Arntzen was convicted May 13 of three counts of forcing himself on two girls over a number of years, from the time they would eight or nine and into their teen years, between 1972 and 1980.

The assaults included fondling the genital area and breasts, and other aggressive sexual behaviour, the court heard last month during testimony of the two complainants, whose identities are protected by law.

Arntzen testified he did not commit any indecent assaults on the girls. However, Gower found he could not believe the first-term MLA's testimony because he was in a state of denial, given the evidence before the court.

The opposition parties have called for Arntzen's resignation, questioning his ability to represent his constituency.

Newly-elected Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell, who lost to Arntzen in Copperbelt in the 2002 territorial election by a slim margin, has said Arntzen has not been able to represent the riding effectively.

Aside from registering a yea or nay vote, the last time Arntzen said anything during question period or committee of the whole discussions in the legislature was Dec. 18, 2004, according to Hansard, the chamber's official transcript.

For a large part of 2004, after the charges were laid, Arntzen was on medical leave.

Premier Dennis Fentie said the matter involving his former caucus member is going through due process, and has rejected any discussion about the MLA's future in the legislature beyond that. The legislature has the authority to fire an MLA.

Under the Criminal Code of Canada, those convicted of criminal offences have 30 days from the day of sentencing to file an appeal.