Robin Wortman used drugs and position with Calgary Homeless Foundation to lure teens, says alleged victim

Robin Wortman used crystal meth and his position with the Calgary Homeless Foundation to lure homeless youth to his apartment, where he allegedly raped a 17-year-old, according to theaccuser's testimony.

Wortman's trial on charges of sexual assault and assault with a weapon began in Calgary Monday with the testimony of the now-18-year-old complainant.

• Robin Wortman accused of using date-rape drug to sexually assault teenage boy

The witness who can't be namedbecause of a publication ban on his identity is serving a sexual assault sentence at the Calgary Young Offender Centre.

The teenager said Monday he went to Wortman's apartment twice in November 2016. It was across the street from Avenue 15, a shelter for homeless youth. On both occasions, the 18-year-old said,Wortman supplied the teen and three other young people with drugs.

The witness said that on the first day they met, Wortman told him that he worked for the Calgary Homeless Foundation and had won awards. He offered to help the homeless teen find employment and get him off the streets.

"I thought it was strange," said the witness. "You're getting a bunch of kids high on crystal meth and you're a member of the homeless foundation?"

Witness woke up 'feeling strange'

At the time, Wortman's bathroom was being renovated and he'd been given keys to a second apartment so he could use its washroom, the building manager confirmed in her testimony.

It was that second apartment where the complainant said he suspected he was raped on Nov. 5, 2016. He described feeling dizzy before Wortman grabbed him and forced him to the ground.

The teen said he woke up "feeling strange."

"I had a feeling I was being sexually assaulted," said the witness. "My anal region was hurting."

The teen said he'd been doingmethfor three years and was feeling differently than he had in the past. He suspected he'd been slipped a different drug.

Teen returned to Wortman's apartment

He said he walked backto Wortman's apartment, where he continued smoking drugs and didn't tell anyone.

Five days later,the witnesssaid, he returned to Wortman's apartment with the same friend and again there were two others there.

The teen went to the second apartment with Wortman at his request. Wortman choked him from behind, forced him to the floor and raped him, the witness said in his testimony.

Wortman "was all calm like he'd done it before," said the teen, who described feeling "confused, upset."

Date rape drug found in apartment, says teen

Back in Wortman's own apartment, while the accused was running an errand, the boy said he began to look for the GHB, or the date rape drug as it's known, and found a yellow rock of it above the fridge.

Wortman became angry that the kids had been "snooping around" his apartment when he was confronted upon his return, said the witness.

The four teens left together. The next month, when the witness was arrested for threats and sexual assault, he told police that Wortman had raped him.

Another complainant, whomWortman allegedly chased out of hisapartment with a knife,is set to testify on Tuesday.

After police announced the first set of chargesin March, a third complainant came forward, alleginghe was sexually assaulted and forcibly confined in Wortman'sapartment in late 2016.

Wortmanfaces nine newcharges, which include making, distributing, possessing andaccessingchild pornography. A date for that trial has not yet been set.

Missing witnesses

Defence lawyer Andre Ouellette asked provincial court Judge Heather Lamoureux for an adjournment so he could attempt to track down the other witnesses who were in Wortman's apartment during the two alleged sexual assaults.

Prosecutor Shane Parker said police have had difficulties finding teens who are homeless.

"They are disenfranchised youth, living on street," said Parker. "It's happenstance when they can be found."

Lamoureux gave Ouellettethe rest of Monday afternoon to find the teens.

"The case is what it is," said the judge.