Crown cross-examines Raymond teacher in sex exploitation trial

During the first visit in April 2016, he testified he went to a baseball diamond to meet with the teen to talk.

The second visit between the two in May of 2016, he arranged and bought a Slurpee for her.

The third visit occurred behind the Raymond senior’s lodge, where Salmon said the two sat on a patio swing and talked about the rugby season, personal struggles and her future playing basketball. He did not recall who had arranged the evening meeting. Salmon testified he felt he was someone she was comfortable talking with him because she couldn’t confide in her parents, or her friends.

The fourth visit occurred around the September long weekend, once again at the senior’s lodge, while a fifth visit occurred late in the month near Corner Lake sometime after 9 p.m. A short time after the visit between the two, the alleged victim rolled her vehicle and suffered minor injuries.

Janicke asked Salmon whether he had spent any other time alone with the girl, to which he replied he had, at school, when he opened the gym so athletes could practice basketball. The two also occasionally communicated by Snapchat and by text, and in group messages and with one another. The teen, he also said, sometimes went to his office, closed the door and turned the lights off, when she suffered from headaches associated with concussions received while playing sports.

At one point during his testimony, Salmon told the court he felt like he was “on an island” and the only one listening to her, or that she felt comfortable with, and that he told his wife and another teacher about it.

Janicke also asked Salmon whether the principle of Raymond High School ever warned coaches about interactions with students; specifically, never to be alone with them outside of school.

Salmon told the court he had heard about that, but did not take it as a “warning,” nor did he believe the information was aimed directly at him.

He told the court that in September 2016, he became aware the student had feelings for him, as they cleaned up after a basketball practice – and that she said she had felt a “zing” when he side-hugged her.

However, when asked by the Crown whether Salmon did anything to address it, he testified that he didn’t tell the woman it was inappropriate, and he did not mention anything to the principle or to his wife, because it “would have been a hard conversation to have,” and it was “a little bit embarrassing to me.”

He however, said he mentioned it to the volleyball coach, who eventually told the teen’s parents.

By late September, a meeting was scheduled between Salmon, the female student’s parents and the principle to address the relationship between the teacher and student, bullying issues, and also – as Salmon believed – the girl’s use of a highly controlled and highly addictive prescription drug.

The Crown asked Salmon how he knew the young woman may have been using the drugs, to which he replied, “she told me.” He was then asked whether he knew that as a teacher it was his responsibility to report the alleged drug use?

“I was not aware,” Salmon replied.

During the fifth meeting between the teenager and Salmon around 9:30 p.m. Sept. 27 near Corner Lake, he said she became very upset because he told her he could no longer be her confidante. He again gave her a “side hug.”

“I was trying to protect myself and my family,” Salmon said. “I needed to explain why I was going to distance myself.”

He testified he heard she had been in a vehicle accident shortly after their meeting, through a group text message sent to his wife. He then messaged the girl’s father. The meeting the next day was cancelled.

Janicke asked Salmon whether he mentioned being with the girl just prior to the accident, to which he said he did not, adding that the situation weighed heavily on him, and he was afraid he had caused the woman more pain.

Another meeting was scheduled for the parties to meet around Thanksgiving in October.

The Crown asked whether at that meeting Salmon mentioned alleged drug use, to which he replied he didn’t.

“Why didn’t you get her help?” asked Janicke.

“I was left with the impression that without her willingness there was nothing I could do,” said Salmon.

The Defense is expected to call at least one more witness, and the case should wrap up this week.

by Lara Fominoff @LaraFominoff on Twitter

Crown cross-examines Raymond teacher in sex exploitation trial

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