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	Leader Sexually Exploited Girls in Church Program By Galen Eagle Peterborough Examiner April 30, 2008 http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1007890 Turning around to face his victims and their families, a former church instructor apologized in court for taking advantage of two girls, an act the Crown has called an egregious breach of trust. The 26-year-old has pleaded guilty to providing two of his female students alcohol and engaging in sexual acts with them before and after church programs. "I just want to apologize to the families for what I've done," he said. "I can't imagine the pain I have caused all of you." A publication ban prohibits reporting any details that might identify the victims, which because of the small church community involved covers the man's name and the name of the church. Mr. Justice Robert Graydon gave the man 10 months in jail and three years probation. The man pleaded guilty in August to sexual interference and sexual exploitation for acts taking place between Jan. 1, 2003 and Feb. 9, 2004. The then 21-year-old used his position as a program teacher within the church to exploit a 12-year-old and 15-year-old to drink and engage in sexual activity, court heard. Both girls initially denied having any sexual conduct with the man but later came forward to police, court heard. Reading her victim impact statement to Graydon, the mother of one of the victims said she forgives the man despite what he stole from his young victims. "He robbed them of dignity, privacy and respect. He robbed them of their innocence," she said. "I forgive him and want him to get help." Acting Crown attorney Bob Burgis said the man betrayed his position within the church. "You don't expect to send your children to church and have them preyed upon," Burgis said. "These young ladies have had their youthful years essentially taken away from them." The man's pre-sentence report indicated he came from a broken family and experienced little emotional support growing up. Defence lawyer Dick Boriss said his client was sexually assaulted as a young boy. In addition to the jail sentence, Graydon placed the man on the sexual offenders registry for 10 years, ordered him to provide police a sample of his DNA and issued a lifetime weapons ban. His probation conditions will prohibit him from consuming alcohol and drugs. If requested by his probation officer he will have to take counselling for anger management and substance abuse. He cannot have contact with anyone under 16 unless in the supervision of an adult, with the exception of his own children, Graydon said. Guilty man says he has no remorse A 44-year-old man found guilty of assaulting his former girlfriend, threatening to kill her and smashing her computer maintained his innocence yesterday in his final submissions to the judge. "I have no remorse because I didn't do anything," Johnny Heath told Mr. Justice Lorne Chester. "I think this whole thing has been unfair to me." Chester gave Heath 60 days of house arrest and placed him on probation for 15 months. Heath represented himself in what Chester called a classic he said/she said trial. The victim testified in December that Heath pushed her to the kitchen floor in their Armour Road home, threatened to kill her and then smashed her computer during a domestic fight June 19. Heath denied any wrongdoing, arguing she smashed a vase in the kitchen, pointed a butter knife in his face and trashed her own computer to spite him. He told the Ontario Court of Justice again yesterday he did not assault her. "If I punched her out, I would say 'Yeah, I smacked her a good one.' That's just the kind of guy I am," he said. "The fact is she opened her mouth and I was convicted on hearsay." Heath's pre-sentence report described him as ambitious, hard working and a good father, Chester said. In addition to the community sentence, Chester ordered a three-year weapons ban. Man convicted a third time over ex-girlfriend The community is no longer going to babysit a volatile relationship that has brought a 50-year-old man before the courts three times since June, a provincial judge warned yesterday. William Record pleaded guilty yesterday to uttering a threat, criminal harassment and four court order breaches related to his on-and-off-again relationship with his girlfriend. Mr. Justice Robert Graydon gave Record 81 days in jail on top of his 39 days of pre-sentence custody. He also got probation for two years. Police found Record at his ex-girlfriend's apartment last month, despite his many court orders to remain away from her, court heard. She had invited him into the apartment, court heard. Between March 15 and 25, Record left many messages on the woman's answering machine, one threatening her if she called the police. In September, Record forced a two-hour police standoff and the presence of a negotiator when he brandished a 25-centimetre kitchen knife and threatened to kill the woman and himself. He got six months in jail and 18 months probation. In June, Record was convicted of uttering threats to the same woman and the judge placed him on probation with conditions to stay away from her. Graydon said the punishment will continue to increase if Record continues to contact his former girlfriend. Contact: geagle@peterboroughexaminer.com
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