CANADA
The Telegram
By Gary Kean
The Western Star— Corner Brook
Noting that George Ansel Smith committed more sexual crimes against more victims than anyone involved in the infamous Mount Cashel orphanage abuse scandal, Justice William Goodridge gave the retired Roman Catholic priest 11 years in prison Thursday morning.
Smith, 75, had pleaded guilty to a total of 41 charges of sexual assault, indecent assault and assault, but Goodridge entered stays on three of the charges after hearing an agreed statement of facts in late February.
Thirteen victims came forward with their complaints of abuse at the hands of Smith. The offences occurred over a nearly 20-year period from 1969 to 1989 in several western Newfoundland communities including Corner Brook, St. Fintan’s, Stephenville, Cape St. George, Deer Lake and Port Saunders. Some of the assaults happened while Smith was escorting boys on trips to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
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