Judge finds man guilty of luring, sexually assaulting 2 teens and woman

WARNING: This article contains details regarding sexual assaults and may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone affected by it.

A man has been found guilty by a Manitoba judge of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman and two teenage girls in 2022.

Michael Edward Bruce, 43, was convictedon multiple sexual offences involving three victims he contacted through social media using a fake name in Winnipeg in March and April 2022.

During his trial, Manitoba's Court of King's Bench court heard Bruce had sex with the victims in exchange for favours, including money, alcohol and a ride back home for one of the teenagers.

Bruce pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In a decision releasedJuly 8, Justice Sadie Bond found Bruce guilty of 11 counts, including luring a person under 18 and a person under 16 via telecommunications, obtaining sexual services from a person under 18, invitation to sexual touching, sexual assault and sexual interference.

A child pornography chargewas stayed by the Crown.

The judge-alonetrial, which began in May, heard Bruce contacted a girl through Facebook who was 15 years old at the time of the sexual assault. Bruce arranged to have sex with the girl in exchange for $20 and a case of Twisted Tea alcoholic beverages, court heard.

He picked the girl up in his truck and drove her to a secluded location in the city, where they engaged in oral sex and intercourse, Crown prosecutors said.

After their first encounter, Bruce contacted the girl over Facebook again and lured her to have sex in exchange for a bottle of rum. The court heard they met but didn't have sex that day.

Claimed sex was consensual

During his testimony, Bruce admitted to the sexual acts but claimed theywere consensual. He also told the court he believed the girl was 17 years old.

Justice Bond did not accept his claims, sayingBrucewas "reckless" with respect to how old the girl was and that even if he believed she was over16, he didn't take any "reasonable steps" to ascertain the teenager's age.

The victim died last year, beforeBruce's trial.

The court heard from the two other victims, who were 19 and 13 years old at the time of the assaults.

CBC is not naming any of the victims due to a publication ban.

During the trial,the then 13-year old said she met with a friend one night in April 2022before they went to a North End home, where they met with the then 19-year-old woman and another girl.

After drinking together, the girl said her friend messaged Bruce via social media, offering him sex with one of the four in exchange for more alcohol.

The girl told the court the 19-year-old woman, who was heavily intoxicated, said she would "take one for the team" and meet with Bruce in his truck in order to get more alcohol.

The woman, now21,testified in court she felt pressured by the other girls to get drunk and wasn't aware she was agreeing to have sex with Bruce.

The Crown alleged the woman met with Bruce that night and had sex with him while "slipping in and out" of consciousness due to heavyintoxication.

Bruce testified the woman was only mildly intoxicated, adding she "eagerly participated"in sex with him.

Justice Bond didn't accept that argument,saying the Crown proved Bruce had sex with the woman without her consent.

Ride exchange for sex

When Bruce returned to the North End address with the woman that night, the 13-year-old girl said a friend had arranged for Bruce to give her a ride back home in exchange for sex.

The Crown alleged Bruce picked up the teenager in his truck and drove her to a secluded location, where he had her perform oral sex on him.

Bruce said, however, that he offered the girl a ride home with "no strings attached" and only later asked her to engage in oral sex.

The court also heard Bruce thought the teenager was "at least 16 years old."

In her decision, Bond refused Bruce's testimony and the "mistake of age" defenceraised, adding he failed to take "all reasonable steps" to verify her age.

Bond said the Crown proved Bruce demanded the girl a sexual act in return for a ride home.

In light of Bruce's conviction, defencelawyer Mike Cook asked the court to conduct a pre-sentencingGladue report to be conducted, given Bruce had recently discovered he is Mtis.

The report is due back on Oct. 1. A sentencing hearing will be determined at a later date.

For anyone who has been sexually assaulted, there is support available through crisis lines and local support services via theEnding Violence Association of Canada database. If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.