(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

A Merritt man left his step daughter scarred after he sexually assaulted the eight-year-old in the family home.

He'll spend 30 months in prison, but the young victim is left with with long-term trust issues because of the man she called "dad."

He can't be named because of a publication ban that protects the victim, who was eight at the time of the assault.

READ MORE: Vernon chiropractor was tried, acquitted of sexual assault 25 years ago

"(The victim) had a very close and loving relationship with him, and he was definitely in a position of trust," judge Stella Frame said in a Kamloops provincial courtroom. "When the incident happened, it frankly destroyed that family."

He was sentenced on Jan. 20, 2023, after more than two years in court. He was found guilty in April 2022.

He assaulted her in September 2020, sexually touching his autistic step daughter at home, and he was charged by Dec. 8 of that year.

The victim's mother, his former wife, would have called in to the hearing, but feared it would be delayed again and she'd be wasting her time, the court heard.

She and her daughter did submit statements, however, explaining the ongoing suffering the victim deals with and the guilt the mother feels for not being awake to notice the 2 a.m. assault.

READ MORE: Kelowna ‘freedom rally’ racked up 200 unpaid tickets before being taken to court

Crown prosecutor Sheron O'Connor sought a four-year sentence, largely because he was in a position of trust. Defence lawyer Murray Armstrong, however, sought a 20 month sentence, possibly with a conditional sentence outside of a correctional facility.

"The impact on the victim was very profound. That was demontrated in her evidence. Although she was composed, her parting comments to the court were "thanks for making me feel like I was lying," Frame said.

She then settled on a 30-month sentence for the offender, who will also be subject to other conditions. That includes a 20-year requirement to report for the Canadian sex offender registry.

"I'm very sorry for the stress that I've caused (the victim and her mother)," he told the court. "Other than that, I don't know what else to say."

He was not in custody when he appeared for court Friday morning, but was escorted from the room in handcuffs after Frame gave her decision.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2023