R. v. Cassidy (C.A.),

• Jurisdiction: New Brunswick
• Judge: Robichaud, J.
• Neutral Citation: 2006 NBQB 299
• Citation: (2006), 302 N.B.R.(2d) 86 (TD),2006 NBQB 299,302 NBR(2d) 86,(2006), 302 NBR(2d) 86 (TD),302 N.B.R.(2d) 86
• Date: 01 September 2006
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick (Canada)

R. v. Cassidy (C.A.) (2006), 302 N.B.R.(2d) 86 (TD);

    302 R.N.-B.(2e) 86; 784 A.P.R. 86

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Temp. Cite: [2006] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. SE.006

Renvoi temp.: [2006] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. SE.006

Her Majesty the Queen v. Christopher Andre Cassidy

(MI/0007/06; 2006 NBQB 299; 2006 NBBR 299)

Indexed As: R. v. Cassidy (C.A.)

Répertorié: R. v. Cassidy (C.A.)

New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench

Trial Division

Judicial District of Moncton

Robichaud, J.

September 1, 2006.

Summary:

Résumé:

A high school teacher had a sexual relationship with a 16 year old student from his school. A jury convicted the teacher of sexual exploitation (Criminal Code, s. 153(1)(a)).

The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, sentenced the accused to six months' imprisonment followed by 12 months' probation and ordered him to provide a DNA sample and comply with the Sex Offender Information Registration Act for a period of 10 years.

Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4

Punishments (sentence) - Conditional sentence - When available or appropriate - A 37 year old male high school teacher had a sexual relationship with a 16 year old female student from his school - She was not his student at the time of the relationship - A jury convicted the teacher of sexual exploitation (Criminal Code, s. 153(1)(a)) - The teacher was married with three young children - Had been considered an excellent teacher - Lost his employment - No prior record - Engaged in therapy - No force or coercion involved - Abused position of trust - Showed no remorse during trial - The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, sentenced the accused to six months' imprisonment followed by 12 months' probation - The court held that a conditional sentence was not appropriate - Denunciation and deterrence had to be emphasized - Teachers and other persons having authority over young persons who breached that trust by engaging in sexual activity should be punished severely.

Criminal Law - Topic 5799.3

Punishments (sentence) - Prohibition orders - Respecting contact with victims - A 37 year old male high school teacher had a sexual relationship with a 16 year old female student from his school - A jury convicted the teacher of sexual exploitation (Criminal Code, s. 153(1)(a)) - The Crown requested an order that the teacher have no contact with the student for one year - The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, declined to make the order - The court stated that counsel were unable to provide any legislative enactment or binding authority for such an order where the victim was no longer a young person as defined by s. 153 - See paragraph 47.

Criminal Law - Topic 5831.1

Sentencing - Considerations - Offences involving breach of trust - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5848.9

Sentencing - Considerations - Sexual offences against children - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5849.1

Sentencing - Considerations - Position of public trust of accused - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5949

Sentence - Sexual interference or exploitation by person in position of trust or authority - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4 ].

Droit criminel - Cote 5720.4

Peines (sentence) - Emprisonnement avec sursis - Circonstances permettant ou justifiant l'emprisonnement avec sursis - [Voir Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4 ].

Droit criminel - Cote 5799.3

Peines (sentence) - Ordonnances d'interdiction - Concernant les communications avec les victimes - [Voir Criminal Law - Topic 5799.3 ].

Droit criminel - Cote 5831.1

Détermination de la peine - Facteurs considérés lors de l'infliction de la peine - Infractions comportant un abus de confiance - [Voir Criminal Law - Topic 5831.1 ].

Droit criminel - Cote 5848.9

Détermination de la peine - Facteurs considérés lors de l'infliction de la peine - Infractions sexuelles contre des enfants - [Voir Criminal Law - Topic 5848.9 ].

Droit criminel - Cote 5849.1

Détermination de la peine - Facteurs considérés lors de l'infliction de la peine - Prévenu occupant une situation de confiance à l'égard du public - [Voir Criminal Law - Topic 5849.1 ].

Droit criminel - Cote 5949

Peine - Contacts sexuels ou exploitation sexuelle par une personne en situation d'autorité ou de confiance - [Voir Criminal Law - Topic 5949 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Smart (1992), 14 B.C.A.C. 73; 26 W.A.C. 73 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 23].

R. v. Egers (B.H.) (1998), 204 N.B.R.(2d) 366; 520 A.P.R. 366 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 23].

R. v. P.G., [2005] O.J. No. 4620 (C.J.), refd to. [para. 23].

R. v. Dowd (J.T.) (1997), 193 N.B.R.(2d) 247; 493 A.P.R. 247 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 24].

R. v. J.W. (1997), 99 O.A.C. 161; 115 C.C.C.(3d) 18 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 24].

R. v. Winters (M.A.) (1999), 174 N.S.R.(2d) 83; 532 A.P.R. 83 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 24].

R. v. R.L.H., [2000] B.C.J. No. 441 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 24].

R. v. S.C. (1999), 175 N.S.R.(2d) 158; 534 A.P.R. 158 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 24].

R. v. Hann (R.D.) (1992), 100 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 339; 318 A.P.R. 339 (Nfld. C.A.), refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Drover (V.R.) (1998), 161 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 335; 497 A.P.R. 335 (Nfld. T.D.), refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. McLaren, [1995] B.C.J. No. 1546 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Byford, [2000] O.J. No. 2134 (Sup. Ct.), refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Penner (2001), 318 A.R. 51 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Randell (A.S.) (2000), 184 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 104; 559 A.P.R. 104 (Nfld. C.A.), refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. C.M., [2000] B.C.J. 2230 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Mifflin (C.A.) (1997), 158 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 163; 490 A.P.R. 163 (Nfld. T.D.), refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Edwards (O.E.) (2003), 180 B.C.A.C. 302; 297 W.A.C. 302 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Genge (D.F.) (2003), 234 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 156; 696 A.P.R. 156 (Nfld. T.D.), refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Andrews (D.B.) (2006), 394 A.R. 349 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. P.M. (2002), 249 N.B.R.(2d) 164; 648 A.P.R. 164 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 26].

R. v. W.K., [1994] N.B.J. No. 53 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 26].

R. v. W.Q. (2006), 213 O.A.C. 217 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 26].

R. v. W.E.G., [2006] B.C.J. No. 822 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 26].

R. v. Baldwin (M.) (2000), 232 N.B.R.(2d) 240; 598 A.P.R. 240 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 33].

Counsel:

William B. Richards and Ian Hollett, on behalf of the Crown;

James Matheson, on behalf of Christopher Andre Cassidy.

This sentencing was heard before Robichaud, J., of the New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, Judicial District of Moncton, who delivered the following decision orally on September 1, 2006.