Perth man pleads guilty to sexual interference involving minor

A Perth man and former volunteer with the Children's Aid Society (CAS) of Ottawa has been sentenced to two and half years in jail after pleading guilty to sexual interference in a case involving a minor.

The identities of the youth and his family are protected under a publication ban.

Appearing in the Ontario Criminal Court in Perth on Tuesday, Andrew Ryerson largely sat in silence as the agreed statement of facts was read aloud.

The court heard that over the span of three months, the former CAS volunteer had gained the trust of the family of a young boy. Ryerson had seemingly gone above and beyond in his big-brother-like role, purchasing the youth an expensive gift and paying for education-related programs.

But the court also heard that, when the two were alone, Ryerson would engage the boy in sexualized conversations and allow him to watch pornography.

On one such occasion, the two watched pornography together at Ryerson's home — which led to sexual activity, before the boy asked for it to stop.

'I wholeheartedly take responsibility'

Addressing the court, Ryerson made no attempts to minimize his actions, saying he groomed, manipulated and exploited a vulnerable 10-year-old.

"I wholeheartedly take responsibility for sexually abusing him," Ryerson said, on the verge of tears. "And for violating the trust that was placed in me by his family and the Ottawa Children's Aid Society."

"What may have looked to him as choices he was making was, in fact, me manipulating a vulnerable child for my own sexual gratification," Ryerson later continued.

Ryerson had a shaved head in court on Tuesday, and wore jeans, a black-and-red checkered long-sleeve shirt and a dark coloured vest. 

He was arrested in September and initially faced a wider array of charges. On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual interference, with the others being withdrawn.

He told the court he plans to continue attending therapy during and after his incarceration.

The Crown also read aloud the victim impact statement of the young boy, who appeared via a CCTV camera from a different room in the courthouse.

He wrote that Ryerson had told him not to tell anyone and to "just trust him."

The boy also wrote that he was hurt, both emotionally and physically, and that when he thinks about the man who was supposed to look after him, it makes him want to harm himself and others.

The boy wrote that he can't sleep in his room any more, scared Ryerson will come and take him away.

"I want to feel safe again and to go back to my life before," the statement reads.

His mother also provided a statement, saying Ryerson's decision to sexually abuse her son amounted to "a lifelong sentence."

"You have shaken the safety and security we had as a family," she said, addressing Ryerson directly.

On top of his 30-month jail sentence — which came on the recommendation of a joint submission by the Crown and the defence —  Justice Janet Robb also imposed a number of conditions. 

Ryerson is prohibited from communicating with the boy and his immediate family, must supply a DNA sample and is subject to firearm prohibitions.

He will also be added to the sex offender registry and will be barred from attending certain areas where people under the age of 16 years are present, including being within two kilometres of the victim's home.

Ryerson will also be barred from seeking employment or volunteering in any role involving a position of trust over youths.