Veterinarian guilty of sexual assault to continue working in Fort St. John under sentence conditions

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A Fort St. John veterinarian who pleaded guilty to sexual assault will continue his practice in Fort St. John under the conditions of his sentence. 

On April 4th, Justin Sewell was sentenced to two years less a day of house arrest for sexual assault. 

Sewell also pleaded guilty to charges of unlawfully recording intimate images and voyeurism in November of 2022 after a sexual assault investigation that started in 2019.

For those counts he will also serve two concurrent sentences: six months for secretly observing/recording nudity or sexual activity and three months for secretly observing/recording nudity in a private place.

Under his conditional sentence order, Sewell is required to be in his house 24 hours a day, but with notable exceptions. 

Sewell said he is still able to continue his practice, commute to Rivers Animal Hospital during working hours and come in after hours for emergencies. 

He also cannot communicate with the victim or be within 50 metres of the victim’s workplace.

Sewell was also ordered to pay $600 in victim surcharges and received a 10-year firearm prohibition.

A later court date will be scheduled to determine if Sewell will be added to the sex offender registry. 

He is required to meet with a conditional sentence supervisor throughout his sentence. 

According to the investigation, the incidents happened in 2007 in Charlie Lake.

In order to prevent the victim and witnesses from being identified, details from the hearing are under a publication ban.