Red Deer sex assault trial hears police interview with accused teen

A teenager on trial for sexually assaulting other teens while onoutings withScouts Canada and Cadets Canadaadmitted to police that he had exposed himself to a boy during a camping trip.

But the teen denied brandishing a knifethreatening to hurt the alleged victim if he didn't touch theaccused's penis,according toapolice interviewthat was played in Red Deer youth court Wednesday.

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The accused whowas 17 at thetime of his arrest andcannot be named under law faces nine counts including sexual assault and sexual assault with a weapon.

Teen cries on tape, says he's scared

Today the accusedsat quietly in court, looking down, listening to therecording while dressed ina dark suit.

At one point during the recorded interview, the officer said,"I think there's something here. Ithink something did happen. I think you did expose yourself."

The officerwent on to ask the accused if he understood the gravity of thesituation, and what he thought the punishment should be for suchserious crimes.

"I don't know," repliedthe accused.

"Life in prison?" asked the officer.

"No," said the accused.

"Fiveyears? 10years?" suggestedthe officer.

That's when the accused started to cry, saying he was scared.

The officer then said, "Why don't we clear the air hereand get tothe truth about what happened?"

The accused then admitted to some of the allegations includingtouching some of the girls' bottoms and exposing himself.

The officer said, "They've all felt like they were victims of you. Do you agree?"

"Yes," said the accused.

When asked why he thought that, the accused said the other girls and boysdidn't feelcomfortable with it.

"Did you know at the time?"

"No," said the accused.

Trial continues this afternoon

The five alleged victims include boys and girls whoearlier testifiedtobeing assaulted multiple times and being threatened with a knife.

The alleged assaults occurredbetween 2012and 2015.

The accused was involved withScouts Canada between 2007 and 2012, and with Cadets Canada between 2011 and 2015, according to police.

The defence will present its case this afternoon.