(JOHN MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)

CONTENT ADVISORY

Former Kelowna RCMP Const. Sean Eckland once watched a 12-year-old burn to death in a vehicle as he stood there powerless to do anything.

Even before joining the RCMP, he survived a car crash that killed his brother, and he's been on the scene of many accidents where multiple people were killed and has been called to umpteen suicides.

In 2016, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

All this added to the events that would ultimately cost him his career.

Two years after his PTSD diagnosis, he began sexting the victim in a domestic violence case where he was the lead investigator.

She sent him nude photos and videos and he sent her a dick pic. Over the next 19 months, the two exchanged explicit text messages, one suggesting they had sex in the bathroom during her ex-boyfriend's trial.

The victim had spent eight days in the hospital after a vicious cocaine and booze fuelled attack by her ex-boyfriend, Lonnie Smith.

Smith pleaded guilty to several charges but then got wind of the text messages between Eckland and his ex-girlfriend.

He withdrew his guilty plea and pressured his ex to change her testimony.

"Sean's wife and kids won't want to know what you guys have texted about over the past year, and the court won't like it either," the text read.

However, the victim's mom contacted the RCMP and said her daughter was being blackmailed, and a witness tampering investigation began.

Realizing the sexting would eventually come out, Eckland texted the victim and said: "I'm not going to lie, I checked up on you and it led to inappropriate texting. I know I never intended that... I'll disclose everything about that and live with the consequence."

The text continued to say: "Felt good to feel wanted, I guess, and for a girl to flirt with me."

Eckland had told the victim to delete the message saying he didn't want to lose his job and family, but while she guaranteed no one knew, Global News got hold of them.

The Mountie was then suspended and later charged with obstruction of justice.

Today, May 20, seven years after his initial contact with the victim, he appeared in a Kelowna courtroom waiting to hear whether he would be left with a criminal record or not.

At an earlier court appearance, Crown prosecutors asked for between three and six months of house arrest. Defence lawyer John Benkendorf argued for a conditional discharge, meaning he wouldn't get a criminal record, provided he didn't breach his probation.

"Mr. Eckland actions in commencing the texting relationship with (the victim) and then failing to disclose it to his superiors was a serious lapse in his judgment. It affected (the victim) directly, affected the Smith investigation, and undermined the community's trust with the RCMP," Judge Burnett said.

However, the judge said it was mitigating that Eckland had never actually met up with the victim and no physical relationship ever happened.

Judge Burnett said he didn't lie or mislead the court, and significantly, Eckland was suffering from PTSD.

Eckland had previously told the court he went to work every day wanting to be killed. He thought if he died on duty, his family would be taken care of financially.

"I faked my way through days, not caring if I died in my sleep or if I was killed by someone on duty. I stayed alive for my kids, despite knowing that at the time, I was not a good dad," he previously told the court.

His lawyer had described him as a "very broken and profoundly vulnerable individual."

Two psychological reports stated that the sexting was a symptom of severe psychological distress and PTSD.

"It is my opinion that Constable Eckland's actions are more reflective of a maladaptive coping mechanism rather than a deliberative, exploitative act," the psychologist's report read.

At an earlier court appearance, Eckland had apologized for his conduct and said that his wife had stood by him.

The judge said his kids, aged 12 and 14, had suffered through the "intense" media coverage of the case.

The former Mountie submitted reference letters in his support and previous RCMP reviews described him as a hard-working, conscientious officer who would be well suited for promotion.

Eckland had been up for a RCMP conduct review, where he may have lost his job, but resigned before it took place.

The Mountie had been getting help prior to the events, and had recently spent two months in residential treatment, and now, aged 50, has to continue on with his life.

"The community is well aware of what he has done and has been reminded of it each time his case comes before the court," the Judge said, adding his past will never be more than a few clicks away.

"His actions have resulted in him suffering consequences. They include being charged with a number of criminal offences, being the subject of much media attention, having his children ridiculed and losing his career as a police officer. Mr. Eckland has broken the trust the community placed in him as a police officer," Judge Burnett said.

However, the Judge said he'd pleaded guilty, hadn't misled anyone or lied, and accepted full responsibility while dealing with severe PTSD.

Ultimately, the judge granted the former Mountie a conditional discharge, meaning he won't have a criminal record, provided he doesn't breach 12 months of probation. He also has to do 120 hours of community service.

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