Stepfather who raped, impregnated young girl sentenced to 16 years
WARNING: Contains graphic details
A stepfather who repeatedly raped and impregnated his young stepdaughter – before violently attacking her friend and mother – was sentenced to 16 years in prison on Friday.
Calling the combination of crimes and circumstances "among the worst nightmare scenarios," Justice Christopher Martin went on to describe them as "shockingly calculated and cruel."
The stepfather – who can't be named to protect the identity of the victims – sat in shackles accompanied by two sheriffs' officers. The accused stared straight ahead with no emotion on his face.
The crimes began back in 2011, when the man had sole custody over his then 11-year-old stepdaughter. He repeatedly sexually assaulted her over a period of 26 months, impregnating her twice.
"He arranged abortions for both pregnancies, including cover stories," Martin said.
The stepfather took the girl to Newfoundland for the first abortion and to a Winnipeg hospital for the second one.
After each abortion, he continued with the assaults until the night of Sept.24, 2012, when the girl's best friend, 13 at the time, came to their home for a visit. During that time, the man showed a "peculiar" interest in her friend and eventually drove her home. A half hour later, however, the man returned to the friend's home, broke in, and armed with a metal pry bar, violently assaulted both mother and daughter.
The man was arrested a short time later but the crimes against his own stepdaughter did not come to light until a full year after that, when she told authorities what happened. He eventually pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault, break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence, sexual assault causing bodily harm and repeated sexual assault.
In a victim-impact statement, the stepdaughter described both abortions as "murder." Martin noted the chronic abuse left the girl "warped" and "traumatized." Her friend's mother said the attacks left them "deeply scarred."
In the end, the accused was sentenced to a total of 16 years in prison, minus time already served in custody. He is now scheduled to serve a remaining 11 years and four months left in his sentence.
Ursula Goeres, the stepfather's lawyer, said they're considering an appeal.