Watch above: A former Saskatchewan teacher has been found not guilty of the sexual exploitation of a former student. Meaghan Craig says Erin Osmond walked out of court Monday a free woman.
SASKATOON – Former Saskatchewan teacher Erin Osmond walked into a Saskatoon courtroom a free woman and left that way. On Monday, a judge found the married mother not guilty of two courts of sexual exploitation laid against her.
“I’m very pleased with Justice Currie’s decision so is my client. I think she’s very relieved and now she can get on with the rest of her life,” said defence lawyer Leslie Sullivan.
In 2012-13 while filling a maternity leave position at the Winston High School in Watrous, Osmond began text messaging a male student.
The pair shared two kisses as her job-term came to an end, once on Feb. 4, 2013 and on Feb. 15, 2013. The teen, the legal age of consent of 16, Osmond at that time 27-years-old. “Good-bye” kisses as the pair agreed to end their relationship but they didn’t.
By March 2013, Osmond would have sex with the former student for the first time at a remote location selected by the teen. Subsequently, they met and engaged in sexual intercourse and other sexual touching on three occasions.
At the time, Osmond’s marriage was falling apart and she was expecting her second child.
The relationship would end in late April 2013 when word of the relationship reached school officials, the teen’s parents and the RCMP. Osmond would be charged a short-time later with two counts of sexual exploitation.
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“With respect to the first episode his finding were that the contact was not for sexual purpose and with respect to the second episode he made the finding that my client was not in a position of trust and authority with respect to the compliant here,” said Sullivan.
During the trial, several witnesses testified including the teen who cannot be identified because of a publication ban.
While delivering his verdict, the judge noted he had reservations about the teen’s testimony and how he appeared to minimize his role while on the stand. The teen’s answers were less than forthcoming leading the judge to question the accuracy of his evidence.
The judge also noted the teen appeared to be the one controlling the relationship at one point or another and didn’t blame him since many 16-year-olds would have reacted the same way.
As for what Osmond will do now, her lawyer declined to comment and said it would be pure speculation.
The Crown declined to comment.
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