23-year-old Kelowna man pleads guilty to new charge of sexual interference of a minor | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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23-year-old Kelowna man pleads guilty to new charge of sexual interference of a minor

Zachary Xavier Heise pleaded guilty to his second charge of interference of a minor today, March 1, 2018.
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KELOWNA – A 23-year-old Kelowna man who was sentenced in 2013 for pushing the head of a 13-year-old girl towards his crotch has pleaded guilty to sexually interfering with another minor.

Zachary Xavier Heise was not present in Kelowna Provincial Court today, March 1, when his lawyer Michael Stephenson entered guilty pleas to charges of breaching conditions of his parole and sexual interference of someone under 16.

Heise admitted in 2015 to buying alcohol for three underage friends in Vernon two years before that. He was 19 but according to his lawyer at the time Joe Gordon, “he also had the maturity of a 15-year-old.”

The friends drank together outside a school in Kelowna before going to Heise’s home also in Kelowna.

“(There was) a lot of dumb behavior, immature behaviour,” Gordon said. “While back at Heise’s residence, he placed his hand on the victims head and guided it towards his penis.”

Heise was originally charged with sexual assault and sexual interference of someone under 16, but because there was no sexual contact, Judge Klinger found him not guilty of sexual assault and the sexual interference charge was stayed. He sentenced Heise to two months for simple assault to be served in the community followed by two years of probation.

Heise appeared in Kelowna court that day with his parents, sister and a pastor from Grace Lutheran Church. He pleaded guilty and swore it would never happen again.

“I know I did bad things and I’m not happy about it,” he said.

Today, Heise’s new lawyer entered guilty pleas to new charges of breaching conditions and sexual interference of a person under 16. The details are protected by a publication ban.

He will be sentenced after a pre-sentence report is prepared.


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