Jentry Jack Salmon outside of the Lethbridge Courthouse. Photo credit Lethbridge News Now.

By Lara Fominoff @LaraFominoff on Twitter

Courts

Raymond teacher found not guilty on child exploitation, luring charges

Mar 28, 2019 | 6:37 PM

LETHBRIDGE – It took less than eight minutes for Lethbridge Court of Queen’s Bench Justice E.C. Wilson to deliver his verdict in the trial of 35-year-old Raymond High School teacher Jentry Jack Salmon.

Justice Wilson found Salmon not guilty on one count of sexual exploitation, and one count of child luring.

The now 19-year-old alleged victim can not be identified, because she was under the age of 18 at the time of the alleged offences.

Salmon was suspended from his teaching position by the Westwind School Divison in Oct. 2016, shortly after the allegations surfaced.

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While delivering his verdict to a packed courtroom, Wilson said Salmon’s wife testified under oath that meetings the alleged victim described as occurring in the evening and early hours of the morning throughout the spring and summer of 2016 never occurred.

It was during those meetings the 19-year-old alleged victim testified, that Salmon kissed her cheek and neck, and brought blankets so the two could cuddle with their legs entwined.

Wilson told the court, that while Salmon’s wife had a stake in her husband being acquitted, she was not shaken in her testimony during cross-examination and her testimony would not automatically become suspect. He added that he found her a credible witness, and he had no reason to disbelieve her.

“I am left in substantial doubt that these late evening, early morning meetings between the accused and the complainant ever occurred, thus rendering the alleged grooming opportunities non-existent, ” said Wilson. “Which in turn, leads me with a reasonable doubt regarding the commission of the sexual exploitation offense.”

Continuing his decision, Wilson said, “the failure in proof in that offense, means that proof of the luring offense is equally compromised. The Crown has not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of either offense.”

Outside of the courthouse, Salmon spoke with reporters, and said while he has been mindful of how the case has affected the community of Raymond, the last two and a half years had taken a toll on him and his family.

“It’s been the worst experience of our life. You know, everybody shares their opinions and just decides my guilt based on things that are read or printed or said by others. And all along I never have a chance to defend myself until this week.”

Salmon isn’t sure whether he will return to teaching, adding it was hard not to feel “a little bit jaded and a little bit burned.”

He says he’ll face any questions that remain and is open to any future education-related investigations.

He said it would be up to the Westwind School Division to initiate any future meetings.

“I think it’s up to them. I think that it’s in the works. That’s always been… in the beginning that was the process and then when the RCMP became involved, they backed off and I think they’ve just been waiting for this to play out.”

It’s not clear at this point whether the Crown will appeal the acquittal.