(BEN BULMER / iNFOnews.ca)

Former Vernon hockey coach and well-known businessman Keith Chase has been sentenced to 23 months in jail for sexually assaulting a 16-year female player two decades ago.

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Justice Gary Weatherill rejected Chase's defence that he should instead do two years of house arrest, but still be allowed to go to work.

In March, Chase was found guilty of sexually assaulting the daughter of family friends as she slept over at his home before a hockey tournament.

Chase admitted the sexual encounter took place but had argued it was consensual and the victim was a willing participant who initiated the sexual activity.

However, Justice Weatherill dismissed his argument saying that "silence is not consent."

During sentencing, Chase had presented roughly 20 letters of support from members of the community, many of which described him as a "family man" and of having good character.

Crown prosecutor Miho Ogi-Harris rebutted the argument saying his good character hadn't stopped him from sexually assaulting a teenager.

The Crown pointed out it was Chase's status as a "family man" that allowed him access to the teen in the first place.

During the trial, Chase had said he knew what happened was morally wrong because of his position as her coach and the age difference. Chase was married with children and in his mid-30s when the sexual assault took place.

The court heard how, while the teen was sleeping over at his family home before a playoff game, Chase had gone into the kitchen and started kissing the victim.

She headed upstairs to the bedroom and got into bed and Chase followed her, sitting on the bed. He then put his hands under her clothes and sexually assaulted her.

The victim said as she was only 16 years old she was unable to process what was going on but knew it was wrong.

The court heard how after the sexual assault, the teen had become less focused on hockey and started drinking excessively. She gave up on her dream of playing hockey for Team Canada and later dropped out of university.

She later returned to university, married, and now has a successful career.

Several years after the sexual assault she confronted Chase and told her parents.

Nearly 20 years after the offence, in 2020, she confronted him again, before going to the police.

During the trial, Chase had argued there was a second sexual encounter later in the year. However, Justice Weatherill rejected Chase's testimony, saying it was "implausible" and that Chase was trying to minimize his role in what took place.

Along with the jail sentence, Chase was also put on the sex offenders' registry for 20 years, has to submit a DNA order and received a 10-year firearm ban. He's also not allowed to have any contact with the victim.

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