FILE PHOTO: Vernon Provincial Court

(CHARLOTTE HELSTON - REPORTER / iNFOnews.ca)

“I COULDN’T KEEP MY FILTHY HANDS TO MYSELF… I DESERVE WHATEVER HAPPENS TO ME”

VERNON - A North Okanagan man apologized to his victims and their families in a Vernon courtroom yesterday for sexually abusing two young children.

The man, who cannot be named by court order to protect the identities of his elementary school-aged victims, admitted to sexually molesting his nieces in 2016 and 2017. The abuse involved sexual touching and digital penetration and occurred at such times as helping the girls get ready for school, or giving them piggy-back rides.

Crown counsel Margaret Cissell said the man was initially arrested for offences against one of the girls in January of 2017, when he was 29-years-old. He was on court-ordered conditions not to be in the presence of children under 16 when he molested the second girl.

Cissell said the accused’s morale blameworthiness was high considering his position of trust and authority, and the fact that he committed further crimes while on court conditions.

“The accused was well aware of his fascination and pedophiliac fantasies and… took no steps to avoid being in contact with or caring for young females,” Cissell said.

The accused owned up to the allegations and pleaded guilty, which saved the victims having to testify at a trial.

When the mother of one of the victims learned of the abuse, the accused texted her to apologize: “I couldn’t keep my filthy hands to myself... I deserve whatever happens to me.”

His defence lawyer, Courtenay Simmons, said he has taken full responsibility for the crimes and wants to get help for his sexual tendencies. She said he previously sought counselling for his compulsions, but had difficulty finding resources in the community.

“You essentially need to be sentenced in order to have access,” Simmons said.

She asked Provincial Court Judge Richard Hewson to consider a three-year jail term served in a federal institution, where the accused could get access to sex offender treatment.

The Crown sought a jail term of 14 to 18 months for the first victim, and two-and-a-half to three-and-a-half years for the second.

The accused, who wore a cross around his neck and sat with his head down for most of the sentence hearing, stood to apologize to those in court, including members of his family, and the victims.

“I’m sorry for what I’ve done,” he said quietly.

In his ruling, Judge Hewson said the crimes represented a breach of trust and occurred in the children’s homes, where they should have felt safe. He imposed a three-year jail sentence and ordered that the man be registered as a sex offender. Because the accused has already served some time in custody awaiting sentencing, his new time is 771 days, or just over two years. Upon his release, he’ll be banned from attending parks or other public places frequented by children under 16.

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