Editor’s note: This article contains details of alleged physical and sexual abuse involving vulnerable adults. Some readers may find the content distressing. Discretion is advised.
NORTH BATTLEFORD — The accused was called to the stand to give testimony regarding alleged abuses at a Wilkie group home care facility on the second day of Jaclyn Elias’ trial at North Battleford Provincial Court on Feb. 10.
Elias is charged with assault, sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon, and uttering threats.
Elias previously pleaded not guilty to the charges.
A publication ban is in effect identifying the complainants in the case.
Police previously reported that on Feb. 28, 2024, Wilkie RCMP received a report of multiple physical and sexual assaults that allegedly occurred at a care facility.
After investigating, police determined that between January 2023 and February 2024, at least four adult residents of the facility were allegedly assaulted, sexually assaulted and/or threatened by a female staff member.
The accused has not worked at the facility since February 2024.
Danielle Elder represented the Crown in the case, with Meagan Ward for the defence, and Judge Ian Mokuruk presiding.
The home has six clients with cognitive and physical disabilities. They are all confined to wheelchairs and are non-verbal.
Erica Herle, a witness for the Crown took the stand on Feb. 10 and gave evidence of alleged abuses at the group home.
She said one day on Feb. 8, 2024, she was working with Elias and another worker and heard screeches coming from one of the clients.
Herle said when she saw the client he was shaking and she thought he was going to have a seizure.
"He was terrified. You could see it in his face," she said.
Herle later said that the other worker told her that Elias had just before told the client: "Today is the day you are going to die."
Herle said she has never seen the client react to anything that way before.
She also testified that she saw Elias put her breasts to the face of one of the clients on numerous occasions.
"[Elias] said: 'Ok you pervert,' while doing this," Herle said.
Asked if it was accidental, Herle said "absolutely not."
"She [Elias] would say: 'You like this don't you?'" said Herle.
In February 2024, Herle and another worker approached human resources to raise their concerns about what was going on.
When the Defence questioned Herle, she asked her about her memory of certain events.
Ward said Herle told police the incident involving the client screeching happened on Feb. 15, 2024, not Feb. 8, 2024.
Ward said Herle told police that when Herle was told by the worker that Elias told the client that 'Today is the day you are going to die,' the worker also said that Elias also put her hand over the client's mouth. But Herle said she doesn't recall that part, since that was two years ago.
The Defence called Elias to the stand as a witness.
Elias said one client always had her hand in her mouth and was developing a sore on her hand as a result.
Elias said the home's resident manager told her to put a wash cloth on the client's hand to prevent her from doing this.
But the client put her hand with the cloth in her mouth.
"I tried to get it out," said Elias.
She called her co-worker to help.
"It happened just this one time," Elias said. "[The client] finally let go. I stopped tying the cloth on her hand."
Elias said she never inserted a cloth into the client's mouth.
For the other client, she said she never said "Today is the day you are going to die" and she didn't put her hand over his mouth.
On whether she stuck her breasts in a client's face, she said no, but maybe unintentionally while using the client lift, leaning over the client, because of her short stature.
Elias was asked if she ever used the extension arm from the lift to poke one of the clients in the groin area. She said she didn't.
Elias said there was a running joke at the group home about one client who would stare at staff's chests.
She made a joke about him being a pervert while the client was present.
The Crown asked Elias if she had taken any abuse and boundaries training, to which she said she had.
The Crown asked if there was ever talk about what language is appropriate.
Elias said she didn't say it to the client that he was a pervert, only about him.
Asked if this was appropriate behaviour, Elias said "probably not."
Judge Mokuruk adjourned the trial until March 2 at 9:30 a.m. to set a date when the Crown and Defence will give their closing arguments.
