Greater Victoria woman sentenced to 5.5 years for luring, sexually assaulting 15-year-old boy
A Greater Victoria woman has been sentenced to five and a half years behind bars for luring and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy.
Judge Ted Gouge handed down the sentence on Sept. 14 after finding the woman, who is referred to in court documents as "Ms. P.," guilty of two counts of sexual assault and one count of internet luring.
The incidents occurred in April 2020, when Ms. P. and her friend encountered a group of boys from their neighbourhood who asked the women to provide them with alcohol in exchange for some cannabis.
The women agreed and bought alcohol for the boys, who then joined the women for a party. During the party, Ms. P., who was 25 at the time, had sex with one of the boys in her bedroom, according to the judge's decision.
A few days later, Ms. P sent a text message to the 15-year-old boy, inviting him back to her house for a "hot make-out sesh." The boy accepted and went back to her house where the two again had sex, leading to the second count of sexual assault and the charge of internet luring.
The experience left the boy with diminished self-esteem and persistent difficulty finding happiness in the things he used to enjoy, he told the court in a victim impact statement.
"After this happened, I stopped caring about life, and I don’t really try anymore," he said. "I don’t care what foot goes forward – before I cared about school and my grades, lacrosse but this changed my outlook on that. I started overthinking everything… I just sit by myself and think about stupid stuff that I can’t control and I feel stuck in those thoughts."
The judge cited the boy's continued emotional and physical suffering as factors in his sentencing decision.
"It is necessary to reject the stereotype that teenage boys are less vulnerable to the sequelae of sexual assault than are teenage girls," he wrote.
"To impose a lesser sentence on a female offender than that which would be imposed on a male offender for a similar crime would infringe the rights of male offenders," the judge added.
The judge also found Ms. P. attempted to minimize her responsibility for the crimes in her presentencing submissions when she told the court that there is no law to "hold a minor to account for lying about their age."
"The responsibility for preventing sexual activity between adults and youths always lies upon the adult," the judge said.
Ms. P. was sentenced to two years less a day for each of the two counts of sexual assault, plus 18 months for internet luring. The sentences are to be served consecutively.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
BREAKING Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Metro Vancouver mayors call for serial killer Robert Pickton to be denied parole
A dozen mayors from around Metro Vancouver say federal Attorney General and Justice Minister Arif Virani should deny parole for notorious B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, and reassess the parole and sentencing system for 'prolific offenders and mass murderers.'
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
2 military horses that broke free and ran loose across London are in serious condition
Two military horses that bolted and ran miles through the streets of London after being spooked by construction noise and tossing their riders were in a serious condition and required operations, a British government official said Thursday.