R. v. S.G.B., 2014 ABQB 540

• Judge: Yamauchi, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: June 05, 2014
• Citations: 2014 ABQB 540;(2014), 596 A.R. 131 (QB)

R. v. S.G.B. (2014), 596 A.R. 131 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2014] A.R. TBEd. SE.133

Her Majesty the Queen v. S.G.B.

(120188354Q1; 2014 ABQB 540)

Indexed As: R. v. S.G.B.

Alberta Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial District of Calgary

Yamauchi, J.

September 4, 2014.

Summary:

The now 61 year old accused pleaded guilty to touching a person under age 14 for a sexual purpose (Criminal Code, s. 151). On two occasions between 1988 and 1998, when his niece was in the 5-12 year age range, the accused twice fondled her breasts and vagina. The sexual abuse was not disclosed until 2009, when the niece, then an adult, underwent counselling for eating disorders. The Crown sought 12-18 months' imprisonment. The accused sought a conditional sentence in the 12 month range.

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench sentenced the accused to a conditional sentence of two years less a day, followed by two years' probation.

Editor's Note: Certain names in the following case have been initialized or the case otherwise edited to prevent the disclosure of identities where required by law, publication ban, Maritime Law Book's editorial policy or otherwise.

Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4

Punishments (sentence) - Conditional sentence - When available or appropriate - The now 61 year old accused pleaded guilty to touching a person under age 14 for a sexual purpose (Criminal Code, s. 151) - On two occasions between 1988 and 1998, when his niece was in the 5-12 year age range, the accused twice fondled her breasts and vagina - The sexual abuse was not disclosed until 2009, when the niece, then an adult, underwent counselling for eating disorders - The Crown sought 12-18 months' imprisonment - The accused sought a conditional sentence in the 12 month range - Notwithstanding that every sexual offence against a child was serious, these offences were not "major sexual assaults" and fell closest to the least serious end of the scale - There was a breach of a position of trust - The accused had an unrelated criminal record, all but one being for alcohol-related driving offences - The accused was remorseful, accepted responsibility and apologized - However, there was no evidence of seeking counselling or treatment for his alleged alcohol addiction - It was unclear whether the accused was intoxicated when he committed the offences - The length of time since the offences (around 16 years) might be relevant to specific deterrence and rehabilitation, but was not relevant to general deterrence and denunciation, which were paramount - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench sentenced the accused to a conditional sentence of two years less a day, followed by two years' probation - Conditions for the first year included house arrest except for work, medical appointments, etc. - House arrest remained in effect in the second year, but the accused was allowed to be out of his residence for two hours before and after his time of employment - The accused was also to undertake any recommended treatment or counselling for sexual offences, alcohol addiction, etc. - He was also ordered to provide a DNA sample for registration under the Sex Offender Information Registration Act.

Criminal Law - Topic 5720.5

Punishments (sentence) - Conditional sentence - Conditions of - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5842

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Previous criminal offences - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5846.8

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Stale offences - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5848.9

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

Criminal Law - Topic 5950

Sentence - Sexual interference with young person - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. J.L.M.A. (2010), 499 A.R. 1; 514 W.A.C. 1; 2010 ABCA 363, refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Arcand - see R. v. J.L.M.A.

R. v. W.B.S.; R. v. M.P. (1992), 127 A.R. 65; 20 W.A.C. 65; 73 C.C.C.(3d) 530 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. M.C.N. (2012), 524 A.R. 366; 545 W.A.C. 366; 2012 ABCA 158, refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Nickel - see R. v. M.C.N.

R. v. B.W.P.; R. v. B.V.N. (2006), 350 N.R. 1; 205 Man.R.(2d) 282; 375 W.A.C. 282; 227 B.C.A.C. 1; 374 W.A.C. 1; 2006 SCC 27, refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Proulx (J.K.D.), [2000] 1 S.C.R. 61; 249 N.R. 201; 142 Man.R.(2d) 161; 212 W.A.C. 161; 2000 SCC 5, refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. B.C.M. (2008), 259 B.C.A.C. 222; 436 W.A.C. 222; 2008 BCCA 365, refd to. [para. 16].

R. v. G.W.H. (2004), 372 A.R. 378; 48 Alta. L.R.(4th) 181; 2004 ABPC 241, refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Innerebner (T.L.) (2010), 496 A.R. 196; 39 Alta. L.R.(5th) 131; 2010 ABQB 188, refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Sandercock (1985), 62 A.R. 382; 40 Alta. L.R.(2d) 265 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Hall (R.A.) (2013), 570 A.R. 272; 2013 ABQB 418, refd to. [para. 27].

R. v. P.A.K., [2006] A.R. Uned. 700; 2006 ABPC 298, refd to. [para. 28].

R. v. P.H.G., [2008] A.R. Uned. 541; 2008 ABPC 227, refd to. [para. 29].

R. v. Graham - see R. v. P.H.G.

R. v. R.M. (2008), 435 A.R. 388; 2008 ABPC 22, refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Maha - see R. v. R.M.

R. v. A.W.S., [2009] A.R. Uned. 566; 2009 ABPC 225, refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. Cooke (S.P.) (2008), 442 A.R. 190; 2008 ABPC 85, revd. (2008), 433 A.R. 282; 429 W.A.C. 282; 2008 ABCA 280, refd to. [para. 32].

R. v. S.P.C. - see R. v. Cooke (S.P.).

R. v. R.T.O., [2012] A.R. Uned. 353; 2012 ABPC 130, refd to. [para. 34].

R. v. Kienapple, [1975] 1 S.C.R. 729; 1 N.R. 322, refd to. [para. 35].

R. v. B.W.B. (2007), 412 A.R. 182; 404 W.A.C. 182; 2007 ABCA 199, refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Kain (K.) (2004), 348 A.R. 159; 321 W.A.C. 159; 2004 ABCA 127, refd to. [para. 42].

R. v. C.E.N. (2004), 357 A.R. 255; 334 W.A.C. 255; 2004 ABCA 310, refd to. [para. 42].

R. v. Nicholson - see R. v. C.E.N.

R. v. A.B.C. (1991), 120 A.R. 106; 8 W.A.C. 106; 1991 CarswellAlta 772 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 44].

R. v. Brady (J.R.) (1998), 209 A.R. 321; 160 W.A.C. 321; 121 C.C.C.(3d) 504 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 45].

R. v. D.C. (1997), 200 A.R. 204; 146 W.A.C. 204 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 45].

R. v. M.F.S., [2007] A.R. Uned. 573; 2007 ABPC 253, refd to. [para. 47].

R. v. P.A.L. (2008), 447 A.R. 387; 2008 ABPC 223, refd to. [para. 47].

R. v. L.W.H., [2011] A.R. Uned. 624; 44 Alta. L.R.(5th) 422; 2011 ABQB 22, refd to. [para. 48].

R. v. B.S.M. (2011), 502 A.R. 253; 517 W.A.C. 253; 2011 ABCA 105, refd to. [para. 61].

R. v. B.L. (2011), 519 A.R. 181; 539 W.A.C. 181; 2011 ABCA 375, refd to. [para. 61].

R. v. Grandysh (E.) (1995), 165 A.R. 55; 89 W.A.C. 55 (C.A), refd to. [para. 66].

R. v. Spence (S.); R. v. Fraser (D.L.) (1992), 131 A.R. 301; 25 W.A.C. 301 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 67].

R. v. R.N.S., [2000] 1 S.C.R. 149; 249 N.R. 365; 132 B.C.A.C. 1; 215 W.A.C. 1; 2000 SCC 7, refd to. [para. 74].

R. v. McDonald (D.P.) (1997), 152 Sask.R. 81; 140 W.A.C. 81; 113 C.C.C.(3d) 418 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 75].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Blackstone, William, Commentaries on the Laws of England (4th Ed. 1770), vol. 4, ch. 1, pp. 17-18 [para. 56].

Browne, Angela, and Finkelhor, David, Impact of Child Sexual Abuse: A Review of the Research (Jan. 1986), 99 Psychological Bulletin No. 1, generally [para. 23].

Counsel:

B. Kristensen, agent of the Attorney General of Alberta, for the Crown;

T. dos Santos, for the accused.

This matter was heard on June 5, 2014, before Yamauchi, J., of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, Judicial District of Calgary, who delivered the following judgment on September 4, 2014.