Edmonton senior convicted of historical sexual assaults on three Calgary females more than four decades ago

Justice finally caught up with Edmonton senior Richard Hubert Jones on Tuesday, more than four decades after he brutally raped three Calgary females, in their homes, including a 12-year-old girl.

Justice Christopher Simard found the DNA evidence linking Jones to the three attacks in 1984 and 1985 was enough to prove he was the perpetrator of the rapes.

The Calgary Court of King’s Bench judge found Jones 72, guilty of nine charges relating to the attacks between February 1984 and June 1985.

Simard said the evidence established Jones broke into the homes of the three victims where he raped them.

Jones, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, had his lawyers and the Crown prepare a statement of agreed facts in which he admitted the crimes took place, but the identity of the offender was in issue.

Defence lawyers Lance McClean and Julie Grivel did not call any evidence, or make any submissions, preserving their client’s right to appeal based on pre-trial motion decisions.

Simard said based on the evidence of a forensic expert in DNA analysis it was clear Jones was behind the brutal crimes.

The first attack occurred during the evening of Feb. 20, 1984, when Jones broke into a home where his 12-year-old victim was babysitting her younger brother.

The two youngsters were watching TV when Jones appeared at a bedroom door.

“He told her he had been watching her sleep,” the judge noted.

On March 30, 1984, Jones broke into the southwest Calgary residence of a sleeping 30-year-old woman.

“She awoke to find a man standing at the foot of her bed,” Simard said.

The victim attempted to flee, but Jones grabbed her.

More than a year later, on June 22, 1985, another 30-year-old victim awoke to find an assailant with his hand over her mouth.

The woman’s 10-year-old daughter attempted to come downstairs, but the victim told her not to.

In the attack Jones used force and degrading language, the judge said.

Simard said the agreed facts presented by the defence and Crown prosector Vicki Faulner established the crimes took place and he had only one issue to decide.

“Has the Crown proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Jones was the person who committed these offences,” he said.

Based on the DNA evidence he found it had.

At Grivel’s request, Simard ordered a presentencing report into Jones Indigenous background.

A sentencing date will be set Friday.

Jones, who was arrested in May 2023, remains at liberty pending a sentencing decision.

KMartin@postmedia.com

X: @KMartinCourts