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RCMP constable charged with sexual assault pleads not guilty

Aug 16, 2017 | 10:04 AM

A Red Deer RCMP constable charged with sexual assault has pleaded not guilty. 

Wednesday August 16, an agent appeared on behalf of the accused, Jason Tress, 30.

On March 29,2017 Tress was charged after an investigation by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ALERT) was conducted. The investigation began July 15, 2016.

ALERT began the investigation after direction from the Director of Law Enforcement regarding a “serious and sensitive allegation of sexual assault on a woman involving an RCMP officer.” Susan Hughson with ALERT reviewed the investigations and found there was enough evidence present to proceed with charges against Tress.

An eight-year RCMP officer, Tress is accused in three separate incidents:

– One count of sexual assault and one count of criminal breach of trust arising out of the initial investigation involving one woman, relating to an incident that took place in 2016;

– One count of criminal breach of trust in relation to a separate 2016 incident and woman unrelated to the previous two counts;

– One count of sexual assault in relation to a third woman, stemming from an unrelated incident in 2012.

Two of the incidents allegedly happened while Tress was on duty, one of which while he was at the Red Deer RCMP detachment in December 2016.

Tress was put on suspension last August and will remain off-duty until his charges are resolved.

Tress has elected to be tried by judge alone. A preliminary hearing will take place in Red Deer court May 7-11, 2018. 

A preliminary hearing is held to determine if there is enough evidence present for a case to proceed to trial.