A world-renowned conductor and judge on the CBC-TV reality show How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? faces assault and forcible confinement charges following an apparent domestic dispute at a Yorkville hotel. Just hours after the show's final episode aired Monday night, Toronto Police released details yesterday of an incident that occurred early Sunday involving Simon Lee, 46, and another man at the Hazelton Hotel.

The 24-year-old victim was allegedly seen scaling down the side of the upscale hotel, from one balcony to another, shortly after midnight by a passerby, who called police.

"This is a domestic situation," said Det. Vanessa Ward adding the victim suffered injuries that were not considered serious. "With respect to significant injuries, no, it was simple assault," she said.

DISPUTE OVERHEARD

Ward said the incident occurred inside the hotel but the dispute was overheard by a witness who then watched as the victim went from the fourth floor balcony to the third.

"The allegations are he was assaulted in the hotel room and he tried to flee the hotel room, but the accused obstructed (the victim's attempt to escape)," Const. Tony Vella said.

Lee made a brief court appearance Monday and was released on $10,000 bail. He is to return to court on Aug. 27.

The show ran on CBC over seven weeks as a unique way to choose an actress to play the role of the leading lady Maria in Andrew Lloyd Webber's new production of The Sound of Music, which opens this fall at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto.

HAND-PICKED

Lee, who has worked with Webber on musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera and Jesus Christ Superstar, was hand-picked by the show's creator and producer to be one of the reality program's three judges along with vocal coach Elaine Overholt and British entertainer John Barrowman. However, the London-based conductor missed the last two episodes -- Sunday and Monday -- for what were initially reported as "personal reasons," including the finale in which Elicia MacKenzie, 23, of Surrey, B.C., was voted the winner by viewers.

"We haven't been in direct contact with Simon, but we understand that he was charged in relation to an alleged domestic dispute," CBC spokesman Jeff Keay said. "Given that it's a private matter, and something that is before the courts, it would be inappropriate for us to comment on it any further."

Keay pointed out that Webber appeared as a guest judge in the final weeks of the show.

"(So) Simon's absence for the last two episodes didn't really have an affect on the ... outcome of the program."