File photo.

(BEN BULMER / iNFOnews.ca)

A 23-year-old Vernon man has been given a nearly two year conditional sentence after sexually assaulting two girls under the age of 16.

Brydon Alexander Vaux was sentenced to 12 months of house arrest followed by 11 months under curfew, with requirements that he must attend psychological treatment and 100 hours of community service after a ruling delivered on Sept. 7, 2021. When that sentence is complete, he will be on probation for another three years.

Finding the appropriate sentence was "exceptionally difficult," Supreme Court Justice Martha Devlin said in her ruling.

"It involves two young, vulnerable young girls whose lives are forever altered as a result of the sexual interference of their bodily integrity by Mr. Vaux," Devlin said. "It also involves a young man who, while chronologically an adult, lacks the maturity and cognitive and social skills of someone his age."

Vaux raped two girls in the summer of 2018 at his father's house in Vernon and he pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual interference of a person under 16, according to court records.

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One victim was 15 and the other was 14, and in both incidents, the victims said they did not want to have sex with Vaux. Although Vaux asked if they would like to in both instances, after they refused, he continued to rape with them, according to Devlin's judgement.

After a psychological assessment, Vaux was found to have developmental delays, living with both Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD. The assessment also determined that Vaux fell within the "average range" to reoffend.

While his "coercion" tactics were concerning, the psychologist who assessed Vaux recommended that he undergo specialized sexual offender treatment, rather than attend a corrections facility.

The psychologist's assessment noted that Vaux would be vulnerable to exploitation and abuse within a correctional setting.

Devlin recognized that Vaux's decision to plead guilty alleviated the need for the victims to testify, while she believed Vaux was remorseful for what he had done.

Neither of the victims provided victim impact statements.

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Crown prosecutor Margaret Cissell sought a five-year prison sentence.

Vaux's defense lawyer, Glenn Verdurmen, sought a conditional sentence of under two years, followed by three years on probation.

Because of his developmental deficiencies and limited social competence, Devlin ultimately went Verdurmen's way.

"I find that this is a rare, exceptional case in which a (conditional sentence order) can satisfy the purposes and principles of sentencing," Devlin said.

Vaux's 23 month sentence restricts him from visiting anyone under 18 and he cannot be near either of the two victims. He will also have to submit to the Sex Offender Information Registration Act.

Following his sentence, Vaux will remain on probation for three years.

"I hope you ponder your actions and the harm you have caused to (the victims), their families and friends, and the impacts on your community. Moving forward I am certain you will consider that decisions you make in life have repercussions that can profoundly affect others," Devlin said.

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— This story was updated at 3:34 p.m., May 2, 2023, to clarify Vaux continued to rape the victims rather than have sex with them.

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