Jordan Justin Johnstone was sentenced Thursday at Prince Albert Provincial Court. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Crime

“This is not a happy day for anyone”: man receives three-year sentence after sexually assaulting 12-year-old girl

Apr 16, 2021 | 5:00 PM

A man who went to a room where a 12-year-old girl was sleeping, and performed a number of sexual acts on her, has received a three year prison sentence.

Jordan Justin Johnstone, 28, appeared by video from the Prince Albert Correctional Centre, when the case was spoken to Thursday at provincial court. A guilty plea to sexual assault was entered last January.

The incident happened Dec. 31, 2019 at a community west of the Prince Albert region. The girl’s identity and how she knew Johnstone, cannot be discussed because of a publication ban.

According to the statement of facts read in court, Johnstone laid down on the bed next to the girl, took off his pants, and told her “shush, don’t tell anyone.”

He then pulled down the girl’s pants and coerced her into performing sexual acts. Johnston later denied that any sexual intercourse occurred.

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Roughly twenty minutes later, the girl’s grandmother came downstairs and interrupted. Johnston fled the house and the girl went and told her mom Johnstone had tried to rape her. In his submission, Crown Prosecutor John Morrall noted Johnstone did not have an extensive criminal record but added Johnstone’s argument that he was “severely intoxicated” should not be an excuse.

“The accused or others might try to rationalize or minimize this behaviour but obviously when this occurs on a child, and it occurs in that situation, it’s simply and obviously a very serious situation,” Morrall said.

Defence lawyer Christopher Koban said his client, from Mistawasis First Nation, has shown remorse for his actions and said he doesn’t believe he would have done something like that “had he been sober.”

Koban also noted that Johnstone has been seeking resolution on the matter since last September.

“It has taken a significant amount of negotiating to get here,” he said, adding Johnstone has sought out counseling.

Johnstone’s parents were in court Thursday and were acknowledged by Judge Hugh Harradence.

“This is not a happy day for anyone,” Harrence said, prior to reading a portion of the girl’s victim impact statement.

“I know you were under the influence of alcohol but what you did really hurt me in a way that’s unexplained. I didn’t deserve this. You should have known better. You are a grown man,” he read.

Noting the obvious emotional trauma the girl suffered, Harradence turned to Johnstone and said that’s a fact he will have to come to terms with.

“The penitentiary is not a place where you want to spend a great amount of time, so you’ve got to focus on programming,” he said.

Prior to the conclusion of the hearing, Koban requested a part of the sentence be served at a healing lodge, explaining it could help provide some valuable cultural programming. Harradence agreed to make the request.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell