Alan Davidson is facing several charges of indecent assault and his trial in Kamloops began today, Sept. 11, 2017.
Image Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - RCMP
September 11, 2017 - 1:26 PM
CONTENT ADVISORY
KAMLOOPS - It’s been three decades since several minors were allegedly sexually assaulted by a Clearwater sports coach and auxiliary police officer, and today their stories have begun to be heard.
Alan Davidson, who’s now in his 60s, is facing seven charges of indecent assault by a male against a male, stemming from his time as a volunteer coach in Clearwater. The locations of the alleged offences include Kamloops, Clearwater, Penticton, Barriere and Chase according to court documents.
Although the alleged offences happened years ago, it wasn’t until 2014 that Davidson was charged. The allegations against him have not been proven in court, but his three-week Supreme Court judge alone trial began in Kamloops today, Sept. 11.
Seven complainants, who were teenagers at the time of the alleged offences, are expected to testify during the trial. The charges stem from incidents beginning in January 1976 until December 1982.
A 55-year-old man, only identified as Complainant One, was the first to testify. The names of each complainant will not be made public due to a mandatory court-ordered publication ban which protects the identity of sexual assault complainants.
Complainant One testified that he and his family knew Davidson through coaching and hockey. They also knew him to be somewhat of a handyman, so when their family home needed work done back in 1976, Davidson stayed with the family for a few days to help.
Davidson was 21 years old at the time of the incident, and Complainant One was around 14 years old. Complainant One lived with his parents, brother, and sister in a three-bedroom home. Court heard that when Davidson would sleep at the family home, he would stay in Complainant One’s bed, which led to an alleged sexual incident.
“He slept in my bed,” Complainant One recalled. “I was trying to go to sleep, it was early evening. That’s when I noticed Al was creeping over to my side of the bed.”
That’s when Davidson began fondling his penis and performing oral sex on him, Complainant One told the court, adding that he froze when the incident began.
“I felt like if I moved I might wake someone up. I was very, very scared. I didn’t understand what he was doing,” Complainant One testified.
Complainant One said he didn’t move during the incident, other than perhaps squirming, but Davidson eventually stopped and rolled over to his side of the bed.
After the incident took place, Complainant One testified that Davidson would pick him up from school and take him to buy donuts.
“He was… controlling, and he became very nice to me,” Complainant One told the court.
Complainant One testified that Davidson took him golfing in Salmon Arm one weekend where they got a hotel together. Complainant One said Davidson gave him alcohol and doesn’t recall if anything sexual happened that night because he ended up passing out.
“You didn’t tell anyone about this for a long time, right?” prosecutor Alex Janse asked Complainant One.
Complainant One responded that he didn’t tell anyone until his wife years later, and to the RCMP when they approached him about their investigation into Davidson.
“I thought I was the only one,” Complainant One said. “I was scared… I was afraid of being shunned.”
Complainant One testified about the long-term impacts he’s faced from the alleged incident, including posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, and isolation. He says it’s affected his daily life.
“When I see a blue Ford pickup, or I see someone golfing who looks like Alan did back then, it reminds me of him,” he said.
Davidson’s lawyer John Gustafson suggested to Complainant One during cross-examination that Davidson and Complainant One never had a physical encounter, other than one time when Davidson gave Complainant One a neck massage due to a migraine.
Complainant One said that wasn’t true, and stood by the evidence he gave.
Another 55-year-old man, identified as Complainant Two, began his testimony this morning, detailing three alleged incidents involving sexual interactions with Davidson.
He testified that he worked at a local gas station with Davidson in the mid to late 1970s, and was also coached by him on his hockey team. He wasn’t sure how old Davidson was at the time, but knew he was at least a few years older than Complainant Two when he was 14 or 15 years old.
Complainant Two testified about three separate incidents over one summer when Davidson would allegedly take him on road trips and engage in sexual activities with Complainant Two.
“The first time was when Mr. Davidson invited me to his parents’ golf course (in Clearwater),” Complainant Two said.
They stayed in a cabin on the property and shared a bed together, Complainant Two testified. Davidson allegedly showed Complainant Two pornographic magazines before asking if he could touch Complainant Two’s penis.
“I thought that would be OK, so that’s what he did,” he said.
Davidson eventually performed oral sex on him before the pair went to sleep. Complainant Two said he didn’t want it to happen, but testified it was an awkward situation and he didn’t know what to say.
Complainant Two testified that two more incidents happened, both with similar circumstances. One happened during a road trip to Kamloops where the pair shared a motel room, the other when Davidson needed a service on his truck done in the Okanagan.
Complainant Two said he was confused, and didn’t know if he wanted the last two incidents to happen or not. He says the alleged incidents bother him to this day.
“I feel it was very wrong that Mr. Davidson took advantage of me when I was young and innocent,” Complainant Two said. “It’s bothered me my whole life. There hasn’t been a day go by that I haven’t had Mr. Davidson in my mind.”
Gustafson is expected to begin cross-examining Complainant Two this afternoon.
Davidson eventually became a police officer in Yorkton, Sask., and last March he was charged with sexually assaulting three boys while working as a Mountie there from 1986 to 1993. It's not yet known when he will go to trial for those charges.
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