Justice delayed

Court hears from victims of abuse while in foster care

The astonishingly strong 18-year-old woman stands straight and tall. She looks up from her notes and looks across the courtroom, directly at the 71-yearold man convicted of sex crimes against her and another girl over years while in his foster care. She wants him to hear and understand these words.

“You didn’t ruin me. I am stronger,” said the young woman, fiercely defiant—yet stoic and composed. “I pray you make peace with the devil inside you.”

These are likely to be the last words the tall, heavyset and imposing septuagenarian will hear from either of the two young women against whom he perpetrated horrifying acts when they were just 9 and 10 years of age.

They were in the Union Street courthouse last Friday afternoon to learn how long the 71-year-old offender will spend in prison. The identity of the offender is subject to a publication ban to protect the identities of his victims.

Through his lawyer, the convicted sex criminal has indicated his intention to appeal his conviction. He insists he is innocent—despite the weeks-long trial and conviction by a jury of his peers. His appeal will come later. Friday’s hearing was to listen to the victims and understand the impact of the crimes on these young people. The younger victim, now 17, refused to read her statement aloud—seemingly unwilling to confront the man convicted of sexually abusing her as a child over a period of years while living in foster care in his home with his wife and children.

The older teen pushed through her anguish to stand up and bear witness to his crimes.

She told the court that while people sympathize with her, feel remorse and regret for what has happened to her and others in this foster home, no one will ever understand it.

“How does anyone understand that when I was a child I was in a sexual relationship with a 65-year-old man with a wife and kids?” said the determined young woman. “This was my life. I was forced to grow up at a very young age.

“People ask me how does this affect my dayto- day life? In a way it doesn’t matter—I’m desensitized to it. No one will understand it.”

The courtroom was still. The offender stared forward—his expression unchanged.

Crown Attorney Jodi Whyte urged Justice Jennifer Blishen to give the convicted man a sentence near the maximum of 10 years citing several comparable cases and prison sentences.

She noted that the victims were very young girls and the abuse occurred repeatedly over a protracted time.

“The lives of two young girls have been changed forever.”

She observed that the offender knew these were particularly vulnerable children as they were wards of the Children’s Aid Society and had no home to return to.

“He knew they where they came from, he knew they were vulnerable,” said Whyte.

His attorney, Mike Pretsell, said a sentence of six years or more was likely to be a life sentence for the 71-year-old man. He noted as well that a penitentiary is a dangerous place—especially for sex offenders.

Throughout the hearing the convicted offender exchanged small talk with his lawyer, the court police officer and his wife—sometimes lightheartedly, other times barely able to contain his urge to counter the statements made against him.

Meanwhile a couple of representatives from the Prince Edward County Children’s Aid Society listened to the proceedings. No mention was made of its role in this tragedy.

The first accusation against this offender was made to the CAS and police in 2005. Yet charges were not laid until 2010—five years later. Why were these children allowed to continue to live in this foster home after these accusations were made? Dozens of children were sent to live in the man’s home in Wellington and later in Bloomfield along with his wife and children. What steps have been taken to reach out to the other children put in their care?

The call for a public inquiry into how the CAS monitors and protects children in its care grows louder with each new revelation.

Meanwhile the 71-year-old offender will have to wait until August 17 to learn his sentence. Until then he is confined to his home unless he is meeting with his attorneys.

The future is less certain for the children he abused for so many years.