R. v. Steppan (K.), (2010) 250 Man.R.(2d) 122 (PC)

• Judge: Giesbrecht, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of Manitoba (Canada)
• Case Date: February 18, 2010
• Jurisdiction: Manitoba
• Citations: (2010), 250 Man.R.(2d) 122 (PC);2010 MBPC 9

R. v. Steppan (K.) (2010), 250 Man.R.(2d) 122 (PC)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2010] Man.R.(2d) TBEd. AP.010

Her Majesty The Queen v. Kevin Steppan (accused)

(2010 MBPC 9)

Indexed As: R. v. Steppan (K.)

Manitoba Provincial Court

Giesbrecht, P.C.J.

February 18, 2010.

Summary:

The accused pleaded guilty to two offences, assault causing bodily harm and sexual assault with a weapon, respecting two separate incidents. Both of the incidents involved attacks on sex-trade workers that the accused met on the street who agreed to accompany him to provide sexual services in exchange for money. The Crown applied to have the accused declared a dangerous offender under the Criminal Code.

The Manitoba Provincial Court held that while the accused met the criteria for a dangerous offender designation, this was an appropriate case to declare the accused a long-term offender and to impose a 10 year supervision and treatment order. The court sentenced the accused to eight years on each charge (concurrent), but reduced the sentence by 7.5 years for time served.

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 5848.2

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Time already served (incl. bail) - [See Criminal Law - Topic 6503 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5883

Sentence - Assault with a weapon or assault causing bodily harm - [See Criminal Law - Topic 6503 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5933

Sentence - Sexual assault with weapon, threats to third party or causing bodily harm - [See Criminal Law - Topic 6503 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 6503

Dangerous or long-term offenders - Detention - General - Dangerous offender - Defined - The accused, age 20, pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm and sexual assault with a weapon - The incidents involved two sex-trade workers and occurred within a 24 hour period - He expressed an intention to kill his victims - No serious physical injuries but victims impacted psychologically - The Crown sought a dangerous offender designation - The Manitoba Provincial Court held that, while the accused met all the criteria to be designated a dangerous offender, it was appropriate that he be designated as a long-term offender - The court had particular regard to the accused's youth, his willingness to participate in treatment, the absence of an alcohol or drug problem, the absence of a lengthy criminal history, community support and the availability of treatment programs - There was a reasonable possibility of eventual control of his risk in the community and he could be treated meaningfully within the period of a long-term offender supervision order (10 years) - Concurrent sentences of eight years were imposed - The court held that the lengthy pre-sentence custody (4.5 years) warranted an increase in the credit to be given for that custody, especially considering the accused's youth and lack of prior lengthy incarceration - Thus, applying a ratio of approximately 1.7:1, the court gave the accused 7.5 years of credit for time served.

Criminal Law - Topic 6503.1

Dangerous or long-term offenders - Detention - General - Long-term offender - Defined - [See Criminal Law - Topic 6503 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 6505

Dangerous or long-term offenders - Detention - General - Application - General - The Manitoba Provincial Court summarized the general principles applicable on a dangerous offender application - See paragraphs 88 to 118.

Criminal Law - Topic 6558

Dangerous or long-term offenders - Detention - Protection of the public - Dangerous sexual offender - [See Criminal Law - Topic 6503 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 6575

Dangerous or long-term offenders - Detention - Sentencing - Sentence - [See Criminal Law - Topic 6503 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 6577

Dangerous or long-term offenders - Detention - Sentencing - Community or long-term supervision order - [See Criminal Law - Topic 6503 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Casemore (D.R.) (2009), 336 Sask.R. 110; 2009 SKQB 306 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 2].

R. v. Johnson (J.J.), [2003] 2 S.C.R. 357; 308 N.R. 333; 186 B.C.A.C. 161; 306 W.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. 7].

R. v. Hatchwell, [1976] 1 S.C.R. 39; 3 N.R. 571, refd to. [para. 93].

R. v. Payne (L.M.), [2001] O.T.C. 15 (Sup. Ct.), refd to. [para. 93].

R. v. Pedden (B.A.) (2005), 208 B.C.A.C. 303; 344 W.A.C. 303; 194 C.C.C.(3d) 476; 2005 BCCA 121, refd to. [para. 93].

R. v. Carleton, [1981] 6 W.W.R. 148; 32 A.R. 181; 69 C.C.C.(2d) 1 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 94].

R. v. Innocent, 2009 CarswellOnt 4791, refd to. [para. 94].

R. v. F.E.D. (2007), 222 O.A.C. 253; 222 C.C.C.(3d) 373 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 94].

R. v. Wormell (W.J.) (2005), 213 B.C.A.C. 223; 352 W.A.C. 223 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 94].

R. v. Moosomin (L.W.), [2009] 1 W.W.R. 608; 320 Sask.R. 100; 444 W.A.C. 100; 2008 SKCA 169, refd to. [para. 96].

R. v. Gregoire (R.J.) (1998), 129 Man.R.(2d) 261; 180 W.A.C. 261; 130 C.C.C.(3d) 65 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 98].

R. v. Goforth (E.R.) (2005), 257 Sask.R. 123; 342 W.A.C. 123; 2005 SKCA 12, refd to. [para. 99].

R. v. Currie (R.O.R.), [1997] 2 S.C.R. 260; 211 N.R. 321; 100 O.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. 100].

R. v. Jones (S.), [1994] 2 S.C.R. 229; 166 N.R. 321; 43 B.C.A.C. 241; 69 W.A.C. 241; 89 C.C.C.(3d) 353, refd to. [para. 101].

R. v. Langevin (1984), 3 O.A.C. 110; 11 C.C.C.(3d) 336 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 103].

R. v. Jones (J.F.) (1993), 63 O.A.C. 317 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 103].

R. v. Neve (L.C.) (1999), 237 A.R. 201; 197 W.A.C. 201; 137 C.C.C.(3d) 97 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 103].

R. v. Crosby (1982), 1 C.C.C.(3d) 233 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 104].

R. v. J.Y. (1996), 141 Sask.R. 132; 114 W.A.C. 132; 104 C.C.C.(3d) 512 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 104].

R. v. Lewis (1984), 4 O.A.C. 98; 12 C.C.C.(3d) 353 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 105].

R. v. George (T.) (1998), 109 B.C.A.C. 32; 177 W.A.C. 32; 126 C.C.C.(3d) 384 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 107].

R. v. Stockwood (1990), 83 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 91; 260 A.P.R. 91 (Nfld. T.D.), refd to. [para. 108].

R. v. Leopold (M.S.) (2001), 156 B.C.A.C. 230; 255 W.A.C. 230; 155 C.C.C.(3d) 251 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 110].

R. v. Sullivan (C.W.) (1987), 20 O.A.C. 323; 37 C.C.C.(3d) 143 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 112].

R. v. Haug (D.W.) (2006), 278 Sask.R. 28; 2006 SKQB 140; 2006 SKQB 147, refd to. [para. 112].

R. v. Kelman (1971), 4 C.C.C.(2d) 8 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 113].

R. v. McCallum (N.J.) (2005), 196 O.A.C. 101; 201 C.C.C.(3d) 541 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 114].

R. v. L.C.W. (2000), 195 Sask.R. 1; 2000 CarswellSask 453 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 116].

R. v. Brass (S.G.) (2009), 341 Sask.R. 222; 2009 SKQB 360, refd to. [para. 116].

R. v. Otto (M.E.) (2006), 279 Sask.R. 182; 372 W.A.C. 182; 2006 SKCA 52, refd to. [para. 116].

R. v. Hartling (E.J.), [2005] O.T.C. 109; 2005 CarswellOnt 561 (Sup. Ct.), refd to. [para. 117].

R. v. Little (G.) (2007), 226 O.A.C. 148; 225 C.C.C.(3d) 20 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 118].

R. v. C.A.M., [1996] 1 S.C.R. 500; 194 N.R. 321; 73 B.C.A.C. 81; 120 W.A.C. 81; 105 C.C.C.(3d) 327, refd to. [para. 447].

R. v. Johnson (D.K.) (1996), 84 B.C.A.C. 261; 137 W.A.C. 261; 112 C.C.C.(3d) 225 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 448].

R. v. L.M., [2008] 2 S.C.R. 163; 374 N.R. 351; 2008 SCC 31, refd to. [para. 449].

R. v. Scott (G.) (2009), 246 Man.R.(2d) 297; 2009 MBQB 300, refd to. [para. 451].

R. v. Sidhu (G.S.) (2005), 213 B.C.A.C. 185; 352 W.A.C. 185; 2005 BCCA 308, refd to. [para. 453].

R. v. Muhammad (Y.A.) (2004), 202 B.C.A.C. 41; 331 W.A.C. 41; 2004 BCCA 396, refd to. [para. 454].

R. v. Gain (M.A.), [2005] B.C.T.C. 413 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 455].

R. v. D.R., [2004] B.C.T.C. 336 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 456].

R. v. Niedermier (B.T.) (2005), 219 B.C.A.C. 143; 361 W.A.C. 143; 2005 BCCA 602, refd to. [para. 459].

R. v. Krechler, [2006] M.J. No. 230 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 460].

R. v. Kruse (J.E.) (2004), 370 A.R. 87 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 461].

R. v. Robinson (R.) (1993), 135 A.R. 342; 33 W.A.C. 342 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 462].

R. v. Blair (C.M.) (2002), 167 B.C.A.C. 21; 274 W.A.C. 21; 164 C.C.C.(3d) 453 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 463].

R. v. A.J.B. (2007), 220 Man.R.(2d) 8; 407 W.A.C. 8; 225 C.C.C.(3d) 171; 2007 MBCA 95, refd to. [para. 464].

R. v. R.J.C. (1998), 171 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 1; 525 A.P.R. 1 (Nfld. T.D.), refd to. [para. 465].

R. v. Chevrier (1985), 10 O.A.C. 86 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 466].

R. v. Baker, [1990] B.C.J. No. 1995 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 467].

R. v. Goulet (R.D.) (2008), 246 Man.R.(2d) 15; 2008 MBPC 6, refd to. [para. 472].

R. v. McDonnell (T.E.) (1997), 210 N.R. 241; 196 A.R. 321; 141 W.A.C. 321; 114 C.C.C.(3d) 436 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 491].

R. v. E.T.P. (2002), 163 Man.R.(2d) 113; 269 W.A.C. 113; 162 C.C.C.(3d) 481; 2001 MBCA 194, refd to. [para. 492].

R. v. Vermette (I.M.) (2001), 156 Man.R.(2d) 120; 246 W.A.C. 120; 154 C.C.C.(3d) 193; 2001 MBCA 64, refd to. [para. 498].

R. v. Mills (D.J.) (1999), 119 B.C.A.C. 284; 194 W.A.C. 284; 133 C.C.C.(3d) 451 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 499].

R. v. Rezaie (M.) (1996), 96 O.A.C. 268; 112 C.C.C.(3d) 97 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 499].

R. v. Young (S.K.), [2005] 2 W.W.R. 255; 184 Man.R.(2d) 177; 318 W.A.C. 177; 2004 MBCA 69 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 500].

R. v. Mason (C.A.) (2002), 166 Man.R.(2d) 170; 278 W.A.C. 170 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 500].

R. v. Roulette (P.) (2005), 201 Man.R.(2d) 148; 366 W.A.C. 148; 2005 MBCA 149, refd to. [para. 500].

R. v. Wust (L.W.) et al., [2000] 1 S.C.R. 455; 252 N.R. 332; 134 B.C.A.C. 236; 219 W.A.C. 236, refd to. [para. 501].

R. v. Hawkins (D.W.) (2007), 247 B.C.A.C. 148; 409 W.A.C. 148; 2007 BCCA 487, refd to. [para. 502].

R. v. J.E.K., [2002] M.J. No. 494 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 502].

R. v. Haug (D.W.) (2006), 278 Sask.R. 28; 2006 SKQB 140; 2006 SKQB 147, refd to. [para. 503].

R. v. A.U., [2008] Nunavut Cases Uned. 4; 2008 NUCJ 4, refd to. [para. 503].

R. v. McCauley, [2004] O.J. No. 1965 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 503].

R. v. Roulette (P.) (2005), 201 Man.R.(2d) 148; 366 W.A.C. 148; 2005 MBCA 149, refd to. [para. 504].

R. v. Orr (C.) (2008), 251 B.C.A.C. 303; 420 W.A.C. 303; 228 C.C.C.(3d) 432; 2008 BCCA 76, refd to. [para. 513].

R. v. Newsom, [1986] B.C.J. No. 2879 (Co. Ct.), refd to. [para. 518].

R. v. Davidson (D.) (2001), 150 B.C.A.C. 307; 245 W.A.C. 307; 2001 BCCA 47, refd to. [para. 519].

R. v. Kravchov, [2002] O.J. No. 2172 (C.J.), refd to. [para. 521].

Statutes Noticed:

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 753(1) [para. 1].

Counsel:

M.L. Prefontaine, for the Crown;

K.L. Bueti, for the accused.

This matter was heard before Giesbrecht, P.C.J., of the Manitoba Provincial Court, who delivered the following reasons for decision on February 18, 2010.