Technicality trims sentence for stepdad who raped girl, 7
By Kevin Martin, QMI Agency
CALGARY – Blindfolding his young stepdaughter and repeatedly sexually assaulting her has landed a High River, Alta., man the equivalent of a five-year prison term.
But because the offender has already spent more than two years in remand, he'll only have to serve another 333 days.
The stepfather, who can't be named to protect his victim's identity, was earlier convicted of two sex-related charges involving repeated assaults on his then seven-year-old stepdaughter.
In a written decision released Friday, Justice Pat Sullivan said the man's conduct warranted a five-year penitentiary term.
But because the crimes predated amendments to the Criminal Code limiting pre-trial credit, Sullivan granted the man the usual two-for-one formula in place at the time.
As a result, the time he spent in remand since his arrest on April 20, 2010, will mean more than four years will be deducted from the man's five-year term.
Defence lawyer Jim Lutz had recommended a four-year term, which would have resulted in the man's immediate release.
Crown prosecutor Sarah Stewart sought a period behind bars of six to eight years.
Sullivan noted the assaults, which occurred in 2009, involved repeated attacks on the little girl.
"The exact number of sexual assaults on (the victim) is not known," he said.
"However, the evidence at trial revealed that the assaults were numerous."
The offender always used the same method of abuse, the judge noted.
"The victim's eyes would be covered," Sullivan said. "She was blindfolded; and the assaults always occurred in the family home."
"A review of the circumstances of this case leads me to conclude that the offences here are on the serious end of the continuum of the category of major sexual assault," the judge said.
Technicality trims sentence for stepdad who raped girl, 7 - Crime - Canoe.ca
What absolutely infuriates me about this is not necessarily the 'technical glitch' that reduced this s.o.b.'s sentence, although that is disgraceful as well. What angers me to my core is that 6 to 8 years imprisonment is somehow considered appropriate for repeatedly assaulting a seven year old child!
What the hell is so wrong with us that we spend so much freaking time bitching and moaning and ranting and raving over stupidity like the frigging T.O. mayor's stupid 'feud' with the press, or whether Conrad Black re-enters the country, or whether "leftards" are better or worse than "rightards". In the meantime, animals like this are a dime a dozen.
Man, we have some seriously screwed up priorities in this world!
By Kevin Martin, QMI Agency
CALGARY – Blindfolding his young stepdaughter and repeatedly sexually assaulting her has landed a High River, Alta., man the equivalent of a five-year prison term.
But because the offender has already spent more than two years in remand, he'll only have to serve another 333 days.
The stepfather, who can't be named to protect his victim's identity, was earlier convicted of two sex-related charges involving repeated assaults on his then seven-year-old stepdaughter.
In a written decision released Friday, Justice Pat Sullivan said the man's conduct warranted a five-year penitentiary term.
But because the crimes predated amendments to the Criminal Code limiting pre-trial credit, Sullivan granted the man the usual two-for-one formula in place at the time.
As a result, the time he spent in remand since his arrest on April 20, 2010, will mean more than four years will be deducted from the man's five-year term.
Defence lawyer Jim Lutz had recommended a four-year term, which would have resulted in the man's immediate release.
Crown prosecutor Sarah Stewart sought a period behind bars of six to eight years.
Sullivan noted the assaults, which occurred in 2009, involved repeated attacks on the little girl.
"The exact number of sexual assaults on (the victim) is not known," he said.
"However, the evidence at trial revealed that the assaults were numerous."
The offender always used the same method of abuse, the judge noted.
"The victim's eyes would be covered," Sullivan said. "She was blindfolded; and the assaults always occurred in the family home."
"A review of the circumstances of this case leads me to conclude that the offences here are on the serious end of the continuum of the category of major sexual assault," the judge said.
Technicality trims sentence for stepdad who raped girl, 7 - Crime - Canoe.ca
What absolutely infuriates me about this is not necessarily the 'technical glitch' that reduced this s.o.b.'s sentence, although that is disgraceful as well. What angers me to my core is that 6 to 8 years imprisonment is somehow considered appropriate for repeatedly assaulting a seven year old child!
What the hell is so wrong with us that we spend so much freaking time bitching and moaning and ranting and raving over stupidity like the frigging T.O. mayor's stupid 'feud' with the press, or whether Conrad Black re-enters the country, or whether "leftards" are better or worse than "rightards". In the meantime, animals like this are a dime a dozen.
Man, we have some seriously screwed up priorities in this world!
