By Trelle Kolojay

Arguments over in Watrous teacher exploitation case

Apr 30, 2015 | 3:13 PM

Closing arguments were heard Thursday in the case of Erin Osmond. The former Watrous teacher is charged with sexual exploitation after a relationship with a 16-year-old student in 2013.

The relationship allegedly started when the boy was 15 years old and 27-year-old Osmond was his Grade 10 English teacher at Winston High School in Watrous. Court heard the relationship started with text messages and contact in class in the fall of 2012. It progressed to sexual intercourse in the spring of 2013. 

Crown prosecutor Jamie McLean argued Osmond was in a position of trust over the boy throughout the relationship, even after her teaching contract expired in 2013. She was not planning to return to full-time teaching because she was expecting a child. The Crown believes Osmond knew what she was doing was wrong, but continued anyway. McLean also said Osmond held a possible position of authority because even though her contract expired, she remained on the substitute teaching list and could have taught at the school at any time.

Osmond’s defence lawyer, Leslie Sullivan, argued Osmond should be acquitted because the sexual relationship happened when Osmond was no longer the boy’s teacher and not in a position of trust. Sullivan said the relationship between Osmond and the boy was “a two-way street” and was consensual.

Sullivan said the boy was the instigator for sexual activity as he asked for sexual intercourse in text messages and scouted out a venue for them to meet.

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“He was the one looking to score with his teacher,” Sullivan said in court.

Sullivan said the age difference between the two was “not extreme” as Osmond did not have a lot of relationship experience and the boy was mature for his age. Sullivan calls the relationship, inappropriate and unprofessional, but questioned whether it was criminal.

McLean said Osmond was unhappy in her marriage and sought out this relationship and used the boy for personal gratification.

“She used this student to fill a gap,” McLean said in court.

McLean argued Osmond recognized the inappropriate relationship and age difference as she referred to herself as a “woman” and “teacher” in text messages as well as calling the teen a “boy.” McLean said the boy also acknowledged her as being a former teacher by texts referring to her as a “sexy teacher” and another that said “students aren’t supposed to love teachers.”

McLean said text messages between Osmond and the boy acknowledged they needed to delete conversations and didn’t want to get caught. At one point, McLean said the teen texted he might have an emotional breakdown because of the relationship and texted Osmond “let me go for now.”

McLean said legislation exists to protect children from sexual assault, even if a child is willing, and that teachers hold a special role in children’s lives and people expect kids to be safe at school.

Sullivan questioned the boy’s claim he had PTSD because of the relationship and said the boy is highly functioning, didn’t lose friends or his part-time job and is planning to take post-secondary education as he is now 18. Sullivan also said Osmond and her husband are still together after going through marriage counselling .

A charge of sexual exploitation requires the Crown to prove that the accused was in a position of authority or trust for a person over the age of 16, but younger than 18.

The judge reserved his ruling until May 25.

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Trelle_K