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Penticton  

2 yrs for daughter sex abuse

A Penticton man has been sentenced to two years in prison for molesting his 15-year-old daughter over a four month span in 2016.

The 46-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his daughter, appeared in Penticton court Monday to plead guilty to one count of sexual interference of a person under 16.

His sentence of two year less a day in prison and three years probation was the result of a joint submission between Crown and defence.

Court heard the sexual abuse started with groping and escalated to digital penetration over four incidents. On one occasion, the father attempted penile penetration but was rebuffed by his daughter.

The daughter reported the abuse years later in July 2018 to a summer camp counselor and her mother. The mother confronted her husband, who confessed immediately.

“Sexual assault against a child is an inherently violent offense,” said Crown prosecutor Nashina Devji, explaining the long lasting impacts sexual abuse can have on a child.

“The victim on the file is [today] 18 years old, and while she’s had an acute and significant impact as a result of these incidents, it’s unknown how far the tentacle of this offense will reach.”

Defence lawyer Tyrone Duerr said his client has waived the right to any pre-sentence of psychological reports in an attempt to speed up the process of justice for his family.

“He’s having trouble trying to understand how it is he could have ever made the terrible decision he made,” Duerr said, noting the father has sought counselling.

Duerr added his client continues to have the support of his wife, who is struggling to reconcile the sex abuse with supporting both her daughter and husband. Before sentencing proceedings began, the courts temporarily relaxed a no-contact order between the father and daughter to allow for them to speak in private before he was sent to prison.

Throughout sentencing, the daughter remained seated beside her father and at times rested her head on his shoulder.

Duerr said his client has been living with his parents since being charged and will likely end up there once released from prison, “and if he can afford to, get another place to stay until he is in a position where he can move back in with his wife.”

“I’m sorry that I did these things and I wish I had never done them,” the father said when given the chance to speak. “I’m looking forward to some of the counselling and the things that would be available to me within the system and I would like to move forward with this as quickly as possible.”

Judge Andrew Tam accepted to joint submission. In addition to the two years of prison and three years of probation, the father will be registered as a sex offender for 10 years and be banned from working or volunteering in a position of trust over anyone under 16.



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