Man accused of sexually assaulting minor in Yellowknife claims he didn't know her age

WARNING: This article contains details of sexual abuseand may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone affected by it.

Thetrial continued this week for a man accused of sexually assaulting an underage teenager in Yellowknife.

John Robson, 60, and Alicia Moran, 30, both faced charges involving the15-year-old victim. It's allegedthat Moran arranged for Robson to have sex with the underage minor in exchange for money.

Robson is charged withtwo counts of sexual assault and two counts of obtaining sex from someone under 18.Before the trial began on Tuesday, Moran pleaded guiltytoselling sexprovided by someone under 18. She then testified against Robson.

Throughout the trial this week, testimonies from the victim, the accused,evidence of text messages exchanged and CCTV footage were presented.The trial is being held before an N.W.T. Supreme Court judge, with no jury.

According to an agreed statement of facts presented in court, on July 27, 2022, Moran contacted Robson to arrange a sexual encounter with the victim, who was personally known to Moran. Robson agreed and later picked up the teenager. Moran received $100 as a "finder's fee," after which Robson had sexual intercourse with the underage girl.

Victim unaware of arrangement

On Wednesday, the victim testified that she was unaware that Moran was arranging sex between her and Robson.

The Crown prosecutor presented CCTV camera footage to corroborate the victim's testimony. The footage showed Moran dropping the victim off at Robson's car and later showed Robson and the victim stopping at a convenience store.

Moran, a widow with three children, said she was desperate for money to buy crack when she arranged for Robson to have sex with the teenager.During the trial, both Moran and Robson denied knowing the victim's age at the time of the incident.

However, the victim stated that she had conversations with both Moran and Robson in which she revealed her age.

On July 28, 2022, the day after the first alleged incident, the teenage girl texted Robson requesting marijuana. They then had sexual intercourse at the house where Robson was house-sitting, and he paid her an additional $220.

The victim later confided in a former friend about the incident and realized, in her own words, that what happened was "bad."

Robson 'shocked' by age

Robson, who lives in Squamish, B.C., and is a father of three,testified in his own defence Thursday. He said he was in the territory in July 2022 for a work assignment.

Robson said he had a prior transactional relationship with Moran, where he paid her money in exchange for sex. He had met Moran three or fourtimes before the incident and was aware of her drug addictions, so said he avoided further engagement with her.

He testifiedthat when Moran contacted him to arrangesex with the victim,he asked Moran for the girl's age, to which she replied 19. When Robson met thegirl in his car, she asked him to drop her home, and Robson was surprised she was not aware of the sexual arrangement made by Moran. But he said the victim went along with the arrangement.

Robson said that although they discussed the victim's background, and whether she was employed she said she was not he did not feel suspicious enough to ask her age. It was only the next day, during the secondsexual encounter, that the victim revealed she was 15, which "shocked and mortified"Robson, he told the court.

Closing arguments

The trial concluded Thursday afternoon with closing arguments.

Both the prosecutor and defence agreed on the events that Moran arranged between Robson and the victim.

However, defence attorney Evan McIntyre argued there was no standard checklist Robson could have followed to verify the victim's age. After Moran told Robson that the victim was 19, McIntyre said,no further concerns were raised regarding the victim'sappearance ordemeanour.

McIntyre argued Robson's recollection of events seemed clearer than the victim's testimony, which was uncertain on many points. Ultimately, the defence said, theonus is on the Crown to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Robson did not take adequate steps to confirm the victim's age, which the Crown failed to do.

Crown prosecutor Adam Karbani argued there were several red flags Robson ignored in verifying the victim's age. These included the victim's claim of unemployment, her thin appearance when she undressed, her request to have him buy marijuana, and the fact that it was Moran who claimed the girl was 19, whom the Crown labelled as an unreliable source and a "sex trafficker."

Karbani argued Robson should have done his due diligence andasked for the girl's photo identification.

Justice AndrewMahar is expected to deliver his verdict in the trial Friday afternoon.

Support is available for anyone who has been sexually assaulted. You can access crisis lines and local support services through thisGovernment of Canada websiteor theEnding Violence Association of Canada database. If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.