Crown appeals sentence handed to Fort St. John veterinarian

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The BC Prosecution Service is appealing the sentence handed to a Fort St. John veterinarian who pleaded guilty to sexual assault. 

On April 29th, the Crown filed a notice of appeal to Judge David Simpkins’ sentencing decision. 

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

He was sentenced on April 4th to two years less one day of house arrest. 

The sentence includes two years, less one day, for one count of sexual assault, six months for one count of secretly observing/recording nudity or sexual activity and three months for one count of secretly observing/recording nudity in a private place.

They are to be served concurrently.

Sewell is also able to continue his veterinary practice in Fort St. John as a condition of his sentence. 

The disgraced veterinarian will appear before the courts again in June to determine if he must register as a sex offender under a SOIRA order.

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