MONTREAL – A jury trial began today for a former Quebec City radio host charged with sexually assaulting a teen prostitute and obtaining sexual services from two.

Robert Gillet’s case is taking place in Montreal because of pre-trial publicity in Quebec City that surrounded the case. In December 2002, police busted an alleged juvenile-prostitution ring and charged several well-known people, including Gillet.

Crown prosecutor Genevieve Lacroix said a 15-year-old girl, who had been placed in a group home by provincial youth protection officials, had dinner with Gillet and two other men at a Quebec City restaurant in 2002.

The Crown said there was a sexual encounter at a motel partially owned by the radio host. Lacroix told court that while the girl found the sexual activities normal, there was one she refused to consent to but that Gillet performed nonetheless.

Lacroix said Gillet threw money on the bed and left the girl crying. Lacroix added Gillet had another paid sexual encounter with a different teenage girl.

Andre Pelissier was the first person to be sentenced after police busted the alleged prostitution ring.

Attorney General Marc Bellemare has said he will appeal a 3-1/2 -year prison sentence given to Pelissier.

Due to time already served since his arrest, Pelissier has about one year left behind bars.

More than 40 alleged clients and pimps have been arrested in the case.