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Youth put at risk by former Homeless Foundation board member on bail pending sex assault trial

Meghan Grant | CBC News | Posted: September 17, 2018 5:59 PM | Last Updated: September 26, 2018

Robin Wortman will be tried next year on 9 charges

Image | Robin Wortman

Caption: Robin Wortman was found guilty of obstruction of justice for making contact with his alleged victim and trying to convince him to back down from testifying at trial. (Meghan Grant/CBC)

While awaiting trial on charges of sexual assault and child pornography-related offences, former Calgary Homeless Foundation board member Robin Wortman attended an event where children were present, a violation of his bail conditions.
Wortman displayed a "cavalier attitude toward complying with his conditions," said provincial court Judge Mark Tyndale on Monday as he found the 63-year-old guilty of four bail breach charges.
Wortman told the judge he had been "hoping for a better outcome."
Last year, Wortman was found not guilty of raping a homeless teen even though the judge said she did not believe his testimony.
Wortman did admit to using drugs with the vulnerable teens in his apartment, which was across the street from Avenue 15, a shelter for homeless youth. He testified he bought and smoked crystal meth with underage girls and boys who were more than 45 years younger than him.
A third trial on nine other charges, including sexual assault, sexual exploitation, drug trafficking and child pornography-related offences will take place in March 2019.

Wortman tried to find 'loopholes'

Tindale delivered his decision following a trial in August run by prosecutor Donna Spaner and defence lawyer James Salimi.
During the trial, Wortman's bail supervisor said he told her he believed his release conditions were a violation of his rights.
"She believed he clearly understood conditions but he was trying to find loopholes or grey areas in interpreting conditions," said Tindale.
On Feb. 17, 2018, Wortman attended the Metis Nation of Alberta's AGM dinner and dance where at least two children were present.
When he was arrested, Wortman was in the middle of planning an event for Metis families. He was also registered to attend a Metis language workshop where children were registered to attend.
Wortman was also found to have used the computer lab at the Salvation Army Centre of Hope and owned a cellphone that he used to access the internet — all violations of his release conditions.
After the judge's decision, defence lawyer Salimi applied to be withdrawn as defence counsel. Wortman has indicated he has another lawyer in mind to be hired for sentencing and for his upcoming sexual assault trial.
He has been in custody since his arrest on March 1, 2018.

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