rdnewsNOW file photo of Jason Tress leaving the Red Deer Courthouse in 2019.

By Troy Gillard

Trial continues

Ex-Mountie denies sexually assaulting former colleague in 2012

Dec 2, 2020 | 6:00 PM

A former RCMP officer denied that he sexually assaulted a fellow officer at a house party in northern Alberta more than eight years ago.

Jason Tress took to the stand Wednesday at his trial in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench.

The complainant, whose name is protected under a publication ban, testified on Tuesday that the alleged assault on March 1, 2012 took place at her residence, where she was hosting a party for a fellow officer transferring to another detachment.

REALTED: Trial underway for former Mountie accused of sexually assaulting colleague

She said that after becoming intoxicated and being helped to her bed by Tress and another female officer at the party, she awoke in her bed to find Tress fondling and putting his mouth on her breast while the other officer was out of the room getting her a glass of water.

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Tress denied that’s what happened, testifying instead that while the other woman was out of the room he stood near the door of the bedroom and talked to the intoxicated woman about moving the party to his residence nearby.

Defence lawyer Maurice Collard asked Tress if he’d had any physical contact with the inebriated woman after helping her to bed.

“I did not,” Tress replied.

Collard then asked Tress if he’d many any requests or physical attempts at contact with the woman.

“I did not,” Tress replied to both questions.

Crown prosecutor Photini Papadatou suggested to Tress under cross examination that he took advantage of an opportunity to make a pass at a drunken colleague.

“That is incorrect,” Tress said.

Tress said he made no apology to the woman “because nothing ever happened.”

Tress was transferred to Red Deer a few weeks after the house party and worked here for several years. He is no longer with the RCMP.

The trial continues Thursday.