Future Electronics founder is bedridden, court says as Crown seeks a trial date

An attorney representing Robert Miller, the founder of Future Electronics, told a judge Tuesday that the 81-year-old remains bedridden, making it difficult to prepare for his trial.

“His health is quite poor, which makes it impossible to prepare for the case,” lawyer Isabella Teolis told Quebec Justice Mélanie Hébert during a hearing at the Montreal courthouse. “Baby steps don’t even describe the situation.

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“He is bedridden. We need to see him in his (bed)room.”

The lawyer said this after prosecutor Myriam Corbeil informed the court that the Crown is willing to set a date for a five-week trial. Corbeil said the Crown is now waiting for the defense to decide whether Miller wants a trial before a judge or jury.

Teolis made it clear that the defense is nowhere close to making that decision.

Miller was arrested in late May on 21 charges of sexual exploitation involving 10 victims, some of whom were minors at the time. The crimes are alleged to have occurred between 1994 and 2016. The charges Miller faces include sexual assault, solicitation, sexual exploitation, sexual interference and sexual intercourse with a minor for consideration.

Valérie Abdelahad Acosta, lawyer for 67-year-old Teresita Fuentes, who was charged in the same investigation, said her client is also in poor health and will soon undergo surgery. Fuentes lives at the same Westmount address as Miller.

Corbeil said the Crown is willing to set a date for a three-day trial of Fuentes. She faces one charge alleging that she “procured a person to offer or provide for the purpose of facilitating an offense (under a section of the Criminal Code relating pimping), the recruitment, detention, concealment or harboring of a person who offers or supplies a person.” /controls, directs or influences the movements of a person offering or providing sexual services for compensation.”

The cases against Miller and Fuentes will return to court in December.

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