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Shelter sex abuse case postponed 'Inconsistencies' cited; lead prosecutor removed By JONEL ALECCIA TALENT - Last-minute conflicting reports from alleged victims in a youth shelter sex abuse case have forced a new date and a new prosecutor for the criminal trial of a former supervisor. The trial of Wayne Randall Gatrel, 43, of Medford, was postponed Thursday for up to two months after Jackson County District Attorney Mark Huddleston found "two apparent inconsistencies" in interviews with alleged victims. A pretrial conference is now set for Sept. 24. Alleged victim becomes third to consider lawsuit A 16-year-old boy raped by former youth shelter supervisor Desiree Joy Seiver has threatened to sue for damages, raising the number of potential civil lawsuits in the case to three. The boy contends he was statutorily raped on three occasions between January and April 2001, according to his lawyer, Kelly L. Andersen of Medford. Andersen has indicated civil claims will be made against the Community Works Youth Diagnostic Shelter and the city, county and state agencies that support it. Seiver this week pleaded guilty to a criminal charge of third-degree rape involving the youth, a former client at the shelter. It is one of three felony third-degree rape charges, a felony racketeering charge and four misdemeanors for which the 22-year-old Central Point woman awaits sentencing. A 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl also have notified the shelter and its agencies that they intend to sue for civil damages, according to Andersen. The boy claims that Seiver gave him cigarettes in exchange for sexual intercourse. The girl claims that fellow shelter supervisor Wayne Gatrel forced her to show him her breasts in exchange for privileges. Gatrel, 43, of Medford, faces 14 charges, including a dozen sex crimes, in connection with criminal allegations involving eight victims. Ten charges against Seiver were dismissed in exchange for testimony against Gatrel. Civil lawsuits likely will hinge on the outcome of criminal proceedings. "What they said in his office was not what they indicated earlier," explained Gatrel's lawyer, Larry Parker, Thursday. Huddleston would not comment on the nature of the inconsistencies, which were revealed on the eve of the scheduled trial. The information forced Huddleston to remove himself as prosecutor in the case when it became apparent he would be subpoenaed to testify about the discrepancies, creating a conflict of interest. He indicated he'll turn the case over to the Josephine County District Attorney's Office. "The real problem was, (Huddleston) didn't have someone in the room with him," Parker said. "If he had, I could have called that person instead." The surprise moves could be good news for Gatrel, who faces 14 charges - including a dozen sex crimes - in connection with alleged abuse of eight teenage clients at the Community Works Youth Diagnostic Shelter. "We now have Mark Huddleston as a witness for the defense," Parker said. "That should increase our chances of prevailing." The inconsistencies in the teens' reports support Parker's contention that they're not credible accusers. A Jackson County judge denied Parker's attempts to subpoena county workers and to review mental health and other county records for the youth, but the lawyer said the teens' stories don't match up. "There were numerous inconsistencies in statements to the police even before this," Parker said. The postponement comes within days of guilty pleas by Gatrel's fellow shelter supervisor, Desiree Joy Seiver. Seiver, 22, of Central Point, admitted Tuesday that she allowed drug use and had sex with three boys as young as 15 while at the shelter site. Seiver agreed Tuesday to testify against Gatrel as part of a plea agreement that dismissed the most serious charges against her. She faces sentencing on three felony charges of third-degree rape, a felony racketeering charge and four misdemeanor charges. But the possibility of Seiver's accounts didn't faze Parker. "Her testimony is good for us as well," he said. "If she wasn't going to be a witness for the prosecution, I'd subpoena her." Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.