Lethbridge Courthouse 

By Lara Fominoff

Second Sex Assault Trial

Second trial underway for Raymond man facing historical sex assault charges

Nov 4, 2019 | 2:24 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A second trial got underway Monday, Nov. 4, in Court of Queen’s Bench, involving a 51-year-old Raymond man, charged with a series of historical sexual assaults dating back between 1986 and 1993.

This time, the man is facing four counts of sexual assault as an adult, and one count of sexual interference of minor under the age of 14. He was arraigned prior to the trial, and through his lawyer Robert Bissett, pleaded not guilty to each count against him.

There is a publication ban on the man’s name, victim names, and even some of the witnesses who are expected to testify.

The lead investigator in the case took the stand for the Crown via CCTV from Scotland (where she now works), explaining her role in the case began after a complaint was received by a woman on Oct. 29, 2016.

The former RCMP officer told Crown Prosecutor Erin Olsen that she arranged interviews with the victims, made requests of local police departments in various parts of the U.S., and also spoke with a third alleged victim in southern Alberta who was reluctant to come forward, because she felt it would be difficult on her family.

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The officer also testified that she directed the alleged victims, now grown women, not to speak with one another, and they agreed not to. She contacted the parents of one of the witnesses, and others involved in the case who declined to give statements. At least one person involved was deceased.

Under cross examination, the officer was asked whether she told police in other jurisdictions that she would give a “script” to victims on what to say – citing information from an email that reads “we will send instructions on what we want her to say.”

The woman told Bissett that it amounted to nothing more than an emotional appeal, and that the “script” was simply a way for the victims to describe how the events impacted their lives, which is then recorded by officers.

One of the alleged victims in the case is expected to take the stand Tuesday.

Case History

The 51-year-old man was convicted back in March, 2019 of three counts of sexual assault, and one count of indecent assault, stemming from incidents in southern Alberta between the early and mid-1980s, when he was under the age of 18.

He was sentenced last June to 60 days in jail to be served on weekends, 30 days to be served in the community, and 12 months probation.

Two other charges against the man were dismissed because the judge in that matter said he couldn’t decide who to believe.