A central Alberta Mountie is to find out in September whether he is guilty of sexual assault with a weapon and breach of trust.
One of the trials for Const. Jason Tress, 32, wrapped up Wednesday in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench.
Court heard that Tress was part of a team of RCMP officers who responded to a domestic dispute call in May of 2016.
The complainant, a 19-year-old woman, says he took her to a bedroom for questioning and closed the door.
After several minutes of questioning, the woman says their conversation took an unexpected turn when Tress asked whether her breasts were real or fake.
The woman says she then asked Tress twice to let her out of the bedroom before he finally stepped aside and allowed her to leave.
Tress denies he asked the woman about her breasts.
Get breaking National news
READ MORE: Red Deer RCMP officer ordered to stand trial on sexual assault charges
Defence lawyer Robb Beeman argued the complainant cannot be believed because she had a lot to drink that night.
Beeman did concede that what Tress did that night may have been unprofessional, but said it wasn’t criminal.
“While he perhaps should not have his job, it’s not a situation where he should lose his liberty,” Beeman told the court.
“It’s rude, its offensive, but it does not cross the threshold.”
Crown prosecutor Photini Papadatou argued the woman’s testimony was credible. She accused Tress of lying in a bid to cover up his actions.
“(His actions were) consistent with a man who did not want evidence of what happened in a closed room with a young woman coming to light,” she said.
Justice M. David Gates of Court of Queen’s Bench is to deliver his verdict on Sept. 24. Tress remains on paid leave from the RCMP.
Last week, Tress was found not guilty of sexual assault and criminal breach of trust in a separate sexual assault trial, in which he had been accused of asking a woman in custody to lift her shirt and show him her breasts in 2016.
Justice Grant Dunlop acquitted Tress following a week-long trial in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench.
He will face a third sexual assault trial in November for an incident which took place near Faust, Alta. in 2012.
–With files from rdnewsNOW
Comments