The Victoria court martial of Master Sailor Randolph Machtmes began Monday on charges of luring a child, invitation to sexual touching and disgraceful conduct.
The charges come out of alleged incidents from September to November 2018 while his ship, HMCS Calgary, was alongside Darwin, Australia, as part of Operation Projection.
Proceedings are being held at the Bay Street Armoury in front of a five-person panel and could take about two weeks, with some Australian witnesses set to testify. A preliminary hearing was held last month.
Military Judge Cmdr. Sandra Sukstorf said the luring of a child charge is alleged to have taken place through a computer system with a person who was or whom the accused believed to be under 16. The allegations of invitation to sexual touching involve someone of a similar age.
She said the disgraceful conduct charge alleges that Machtmes “had sexual conversations via social media” with a person “presenting as a minor.”
