Man sentenced to four years for sex assault on minor

Jun 15, 2017 | 9:00 AM

A man guilty of sexual assault and sexual interference was handed a four-year penitentiary sentence by a Prince Albert judge yesterday.

Bill Mervin Chamakese, a 55-year-old resident of the Big River First Nation, was found guilty of the sex crimes May 12 following a trial. Many details of the case cannot be published to avoid identifying the complainant, but the court heard Chamakese took advantage of a position of trust to molest a girl under age 12 on numerous occasions over a period of several years.

Justice Neil Gabrielson said the crimes were “particularly grave” due to the lasting effects left on the young victim’s mental health.

“She had to be hospitalized because of suicidal thoughts,” Gabrielson said, and noted she admitted to engaging in self-harm as a result of the abuse in her victim impact statement.

Chamakese, shackled in the prisoner’s box, stared at the ground wordlessly throughout the sentencing hearing.

Although the Crown pushed for a sentence of four-and-a-half years, Chamakese’ defence lawyer Mary McAuley said a two-year sentence was more fitting. Crown Prosecutor Maureen Longworth argued the sentence should be higher due to his lack of remorse, but McAuley said her client maintains his innocence which should not count against him.

Gabrielson sentenced Chamakese to four years in a federal institution. He was also ordered to comply with the Sex Offender Information Registration Act and submit DNA samples as required, and will be prohibited from owning a firearm for 10 years following his release. Gabrielson also signed a no-contact order prohibiting Chamakese from communicating with his victim in any way.

 

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TMacPhersonNews