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Teens testify against ex-shelter worker Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Defense attorney Larry Parker, left, questions a witness during the trial of Wayne Randall Gatrel, right, who is charged with sex crimes at the Youth Diagnostic Shelter in Talent. By DANI DODGE Mail Tribune The trial of Wayne Randall Gatrel, a former youth shelter supervisor accused of 14 offenses, including a dozen sex crimes, began today with two former residents testifying that Gatrel had grabbed girls' breasts, asked for sexual favors, and once wrapped a girl's legs around his neck to show a boy how to have sex properly. A 16-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl testified that Gatrel allowed teens at the shelter to engage in sexual acts while he watched. "He said 'You guys can have fun, just don't have intercourse ... I don't want any whitey-ass babies running around here,' " the 17-year-old girl said. Gatrel remained emotionless during the testimony before Jackson County Circuit Judge Ray White that included allegations that Gatrel asked girls to disrobe and rub each other's breasts with lotion, that he laid on top of one girl in bed, and that while bragging about his past career as sheriff's deputy, had handcuffed a teenage boy and pushed him against a wall. Gatrel, 43, of Medford was employed as a shelter supervisor at the Youth Diagnostic Shelter in Talent for about six months. The crimes are alleged to have occurred between October 2000 and April 2001. The shelter closed abruptly in April 2001 after an investigation prompted by the threat of lawsuits by two teens. The former Community Works shelter, which provides transitional housing for at-risk teens, has since reopened and is now run by Jackson County. Among the charges Gatrel faces are racketeering, contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor, third-degree sexual abuse, physical harassment and using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct. The investigation has already netted two guilty pleas. Ryan Jeffery Keller, 20, pleaded guilty to providing methamphetamine to minors at the shelter. Another shelter supervisor, Desiree Joy Seiver, 23, was sentenced to more than four years in prison for racketeering and sexual crimes, including having sex with six teens at the shelter. Seiver worked the Friday- and Saturday-night shift with Gatrel at the shelter. She is expected to testify against Gatrel during the trial. In his opening arguments, Josephine County Deputy District Attorney Michael Newman said the teens reporting Gatrel's many crimes had no chance to get together to make up these stories and no reason to do so. A Josephine County prosecutor is trying the case because Jackson County District Attorney Mark Huddleston, who originally had the case, has been subpoenaed to testify. "Despite (Gatrel's) cop background, things broke down at the shelter," Newman said. "Some of the kids were permitted to stay up late and then they were given other privileges like being allowed to smoke. They were allowed to have contact at night, boys and girls mixed together, a recipe for trouble for sure. "Friday and Saturday nights were simply out of control." But in his opening arguments, Gatrel's attorney Larry Parker said that the teens are telling conflicting stories and if jurors examined the evidence with a "critical mind" they will find his client innocent of the charges. "Obviously the defense does not carry the burden of proof - it's not up to us to prove to you what was the reason these children came up with this story," Parker said. "I think I can show you one of the main motivations was getting themselves out of trouble." And although Parker picked apart bits and pieces of the testimony of the two teens who spoke Tuesday, the boy and girl remained composed and confident on the stand with the girl shedding only a few tears. The 17-year-old said the majority of the problems occurred over a single weekend when Gatrel and Seiver suddenly stopped enforcing the rules, and inappropriate sexual activities began. Gatrel had threatened to not let her and her friend smoke unless they rubbed each other with lotion in front of him. On the same weekend, she said Seiver had forced the girls to shower together and Gatrel had walked in on them and as they were drying off had pulled the towel from around her friend's body. Later she saw him crawl on top of her friend after the friend had gone to bed. But Gatrel also harassed her, she said. She said Gatrel made sexual innuendoes, touched her breasts and buttocks, and asked her for oral sex. "I said 'no' and left (the room)," the 17-year-old said. "I took it very seriously. He didn't smile about it or laugh about it. It was in a serious manner." She left the shelter before Gatrel's next shift but she didn't tell anyone about the activities of that weekend until a detective came and got her out of class two months later. "Wayne and Desiree said we had to promise not to tell anybody because they could lose their jobs," she explained. Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.