Councillor's Trial: Historical Sexual Offence Claims

0:00Penticton City Counselor James Miller, a 60-year-old elected in a 2021 bi-election, is on trial in Sarnia, Ontario for historical. Sexual offenses against kids under 16. He's facing three counts of sexual interference, two counts of invitation to sexual touching, and one count of sexual assault. The judge only trial hid its second day this week, with Miller on leave from his council seat. One of the three alleged victims took to stand, describing how he met Miller back in the mid-90s as a grade five or six student at an elementary school. Miller was volunteering as a basketball coach, giving kids rides home and inviting them over. The man said Miller felt like a trusted friend at first. He recalled spending more time alone with Miller, including a trip to Chicago to watch Michael Jordan play, where things allegedly turned sexual with. Foot massage is leading to touching. Another incident happened in a sauna at Miller's apartment complex, complete with a condom. The witness said he was just a young kid who trusted Miller completely and didn't know what to do.

1:04The defense fired back during cross-examination, poking holes in the timeline. They pointed out Jordan left the Chicago Bulls before 2001, suggesting the victim was an adult by then. They also questioned why he led Miller crash at his place years later with his own young child around. The five-week trial rolls on tomorrow, shedding light on these serious claims from decades ago as the court sorts fact for memory. That's your update from Canada News Today, powered by AI, I'm Corey with The Story.