Teen witness tells court accused babysitter assaulted her thousands of times
Warning: This story contains graphic content that may be upsetting to readers.
A 70-year-old former babysitter, crossing guard and cub scout leader took the stand in his own defence Friday to deny sexually assaulting three girls who were under his care.
Jurors also heard tearful testimony from a teen who said he sexually assaulted her thousands of times from age eight to 15.
Michael Andress of Hamilton is charged with three counts of sexual interference, which involves touching a person under the age of 16 for a sexual purpose. He was arrested in 2019. The allegations heard in court during his trial, which range from groping to rape, span a decade, starting in 2009.
What would occur?" Crown attorney Sean Doherty asked his third and final witness, the teen who testified she was abused thousands of times. There is a standard publication ban on her identity.
The girl, now 19, shut her eyes tight.
Most of the time, I would be lying on the floor and he would be on top rubbing against me," she said through tears.
She went into detail about the extent of the sexual abuse, saying it usually happened at night in the basement or the living room. Andress would measure her body, she said, and record the measurements in a notebook.
He would measure my vagina with his fingers and write it down in a book with the date," she told court.
The two witnesses who testified Thursday also said he measured them.
As the teen witness walked out of court Friday, she glared at Andress, who didn't meet her gaze.
On the stand, Andress, who has white hair, a white beard and was dressed in a dark button-up shirt and windbreaker, described himself as a churchgoing man. He said he and his wife met one complainant's family through church. The couple babysat kids for at least" 20 years. As many as 30 children had slept over at their house over the years, he said.
He firmly denied touching the three complainants for a sexual purpose. He admitted to touching them, but only playfully.
I'd poke em in the ribs, pull their ponytail," he told court. We had a good time when we were together."
Asked about the notebook police seized, which contains measurements, he said his wife is a seamstress and would make clothes for the children. The book belonged to both him and his wife, he said.
Doherty pressed him on that.
Referring to a transcript of Andress' 2019 police interview, Doherty read out the accused's words: That's my book." Andress pushed back in court, insisting it belonged to his wife too, saying he was tired during the police interview, having just spent the night in a cold jail cell. Doherty pointed out that the police interview took place shortly after he was arrested on a May afternoon, before his night in jail.
Andress initially told police he never measured the children but then admitted to sometimes measuring them.
In court, he said he needed to know their measurements to buy them the right size of clothes. He bought them cheap sweats to wear at his house, he said, noting he didn't want their dirty outside clothes indoors.
A previous witness testified Andress preferred she wear sweatpants because they were easier to remove.
Doherty asked Andress about the measurements book. What did 1F," listed alongside crotch," mean?
One forward," Andress said. He said the measurement was needed to ensure pants fit in the crotch area.
It means one finger," Doherty said.
Jurors are expected to hear from Andress' wife on Monday.
Resources for survivors of sexual violence:
SACHA (Sexual Assault Centre, Hamilton and Area): 24-hour support line 905-525-4162; sacha.ca.
Children's Aid Society - intake line: (905) 522-1121.
Catholic Children's Aid Society - intake line: (905) 525-2012.
SAVIS (Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services of Halton): 905-875-1555.
Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre at Hamilton Health Sciences: 905-521-2100 ext. 73557.
Katrina Clarke is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: katrinaclarke@thespec.com