CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Seven years' prison for sexual predator

The Brandon Sun - 12/7/2018

» EDITOR'S NOTE: This story contains graphic elements that may be upsetting to some readers.

A 61-year-old man found guilty of sexually abusing his stepdaughter and granddaughter when they were children has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

"These are serious crimes. (His) degree of responsibility is high. The victims were deeply affected," Justice Sandra Zinchuk said in her decision delivered in Brandon Court of Queen's Bench on Thursday.

"The harsh and grim reality of child abuse is that the sentence of the victim is always longer than the perpetrator."

The man, who cannot be named due to a publication ban put in place to protect the victims, was convicted in April of sexual assault, sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching.

The offences date back to the late 1980s, when the man started molesting his stepdaughter when she was six years old.

What started as inappropriate touching escalated into the man coaching his stepdaughter to give him oral sex and performing oral sex on her. He eventually raped her vaginally when she was 13 years old.

Years later, the man also molested his five-year-old granddaughter, following her into the shower unclothed and asking her to wash him, soaping up her hand and placing it on his penis.

Although the man's granddaughter did not provide a victim impact statement, Zinchuk said it was clear in her testimony during trial that the incident had a "negative impact" on her.

The victim impact statement provided by the man's stepdaughter shed more light on the detrimental consequences of his actions, Zinchuk added.

"The impact is palpable, the breach of trust was devastating and has had a lasting effect," Zinchuk said. "(She) has spent years dealing with guilt, shame and fear. Even now in her 30s, she is still trying to heal."

The Crown had asked the court to consider a nine-year sentence, while defence counsel argued such a sentence would be excessive, considering the offences were 18 to 34 years ago, and the man has been deemed to be a very low risk to reoffend.

Zinchuk said a period of house arrest would be "wholly inappropriate," adding denunciation and deterrence were paramount in this case.

While taking into consideration the man was rated as a very low risk to reoffend, the offences occurred approximately 18 years ago and the fact the man has no criminal record, Zinchuk said these mitigating factors were reduced by his lack of remorse.

"It is specifically indicated in the (pre-sentence report) that he advised he felt no remorse or empathy for the victims because he did nothing wrong," Zinchuk said.

This was not isolated behaviour as there were two complainants, Zinchuk added, and the number of incidents against his stepdaughter was substantial and over a lengthy time period.

The man was also in a position of trust and used a form of manipulation to convince his stepdaughter that what he was doing was normal, Zinchuk said.

In addition to seven years in prison, the man must also register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

» edebooy@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @erindebooy