Trial resumes for 76-year-old man facing sex assault charges in relation to underage girl

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A 76-year-old man on trial in Court of Queen’s Bench in Lethbridge for several sex related offences, took the stand in his own defense Monday, Dec. 16.

The man can not be named because it may identify the victim, who was between the ages 13 and 17 at the time of the alleged offences. He is facing seven charges, including sexual assault, sexual exploitation, obtaining sexual services, threats causing death, harassment and forgery.

As he took the stand, the senior described his childhood and British military career, past postings, and when he moved to Canada with his wife of 55 years. He also talked about his current and past employment in southern Alberta – including his work at a campground, a civic centre and as a firearms instructor.

The alleged victim, now 19, testified last April that she worked at the civic centre’s concession stand, and that the man would play with her hair, put his hand on her thigh and even once told her “you know you could always take a bite out of my hotdog.”

The senior denied it all and testified he had never touched or spoken to the girl inappropriately.

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The young woman also testified while working for the man at a campground he pulled out a red laptop and opened it, displaying a screen saver with a naked woman. He also at one point began playing with her pantlegs, waistband, and genitals. During subsequent encounters at the campground office, she told the court she engaged in oral sex with the 76-year-old, and each time she would be paid $50. It soon graduated to vaginal intercourse for which she may have been paid $100 each time.

Defense lawyer Greg White asked the man whether any of that had occurred, to which he replied, “no sir.”

“Did you ever touch her neck? Her shoulders? Her thighs? Did you ever offer money? Did you ever get bl**jobs? Have sexual intercourse?” he asked.

“No sir, I did not,” the man answered.

In fact, the senior citizen testified that the woman was paid $20 per week for cleaning campground bathrooms, which would come out of either money he was paid for firearm instruction courses, or money obtained from recycling bottles from the campground.

He did tell the court she was at his home two times; once with his grandson, and another time with her brother when he wanted more information on a gun course offered. The man also admitted to driving the girl and her brother home from a community event one time and attending her home once a week to inquire whether she be available to clean the campground bathrooms.

The third phase of the trial, which began last April and continued into May, is expected to continue for the rest of this week.