Judge to set trial date in February in Robert Miller sex crimes case

A judge has adjourned the criminal case against Montreal billionaire Robert Miller after he was recently charged with new sexual offences involving a minor.

Following a hearing on Thursday, Miller's lawyers and the Crown prosecutor are expected to return to court in February to set a date for a trial.

The 81-year-old was arrested in May on 21 sex-related charges involving 10 complainants. On Thursday, he was arraigned on three additional counts of sexual interference, sexual exploitation and procuring sexual services from a girl who was under 14 at the time of the alleged events.

According to his doctor, he is in the final stage of Parkinson's disease but the court heard his health won't be a factor in the prosecution's case, which alleged he had sex with 11 underage girls between 1994 and 2016.

"The job of a Crown prosecutor is to take decisions in the public interest. So, at each decision that a Crown prosecutor takes, they have the public interest in mind. And, of course, there's always a careful balancing of all the factors that need to be taken into consideration. and in this new file, the Crown prosecutors, including me, have decided to file new charges," said prosecutor Delphine Mauger.

Despite the passage of time, the alleged victims are ready to face Miller.

"Well, as any file involving criminal sexual crimes, we always have very honest conversations with the victim and make sure they have all the information they need to take a decision to move forward or not," Mauger added.

Miller is the founder and former president of Future Electronics.

Radio-Canada aired an investigative report two years ago claiming the billionaire ran a carefully orchestrated system of recruiting young girls, and spoiling them with money and gifts in exchange for sex.

The alleged victims went to police soon after, but the prosecution never laid any charges at the time.

Teresita Fuentes, a 67-year-old woman, was also charged as an alleged accomplice.

Miller is also facing similar allegations in a proposed class-action lawsuit seeking monetary damages.