Man, 67, jailed for more than four years for sexual offences against girl, 16

Content warning: This story contains details of an upsetting or sensitive nature that may be disturbing to some readers.

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A 67-year-old man who committed sexual offences against a girl under 16 has been sentenced in Fort St. John to four and a half years in jail.

The man, who was previously convicted of the 2021 sexual assault and sexual touching of a girl under 16, is named as ‘Mr H’ in the sentencing decision on December 5th by BC Supreme Court Justice Michael Brundrett.

A publication ban protects the identities of the victim and witnesses, but Brundrett said Mr H violated a position of trust as the girl’s great uncle.

“This type of sexualized violence committed against a vulnerable girl in her own home is absolutely intolerable,” said Brundrett.

The sentencing decision was published on December 23rd, the fourth anniversary of the victim’s suicide.

The Crown asked for a five-year sentence. Brundrett emphatically rejected the defence’s proposal of two years less a day, with two years probation, or two to three years jail. He called it too low for the serious crime which had such a profound effect on the victim.

“The offences took an incredible mental, emotional and physical toll on her, to the point where she felt overwhelming trauma and ultimately committed suicide,” Brundrett said.

The girl lived with her grandmother – Mr H’s sister – since shortly after her birth, because her mother was unable to care for her.

On the night of the crime, October 6th, 2021, Mr H bought alcohol for the girl. She became drunk and fell asleep in the basement. He proceeded to exploit the girl, a member of the same First Nation.

Brundrett acknowledged Mr H’s Indigenous heritage. He grew up as a child of an alcoholic, did not complete elementary school, committed crimes and became an addict.

His record does not include related convictions and he was deemed a low risk of reoffending, but he showed no remorse.

“I expect that his rehabilitation may be challenging given that he continues to deny the offence,” the judge said.

Brundrett gave Mr H credit for two days’ served, banned him from possessing firearms for 10 years and added him to the national sex offender registry for a term of 20 years.

Mr H was initially convicted of the sexual assault charge, but it was stayed at the beginning of the sentencing in favour of the more-serious sexual interference offence due to a court rule against double convictions for the same incident.

• Help is available anytime at 9-8-8, the national suicide crisis helpline, or crisis-centre.ca, the crisis prevention, intervention and information centre for northern B.C.