WESTLOCK – A 17-year-old Barrhead youth pleaded guilty on Oct. 9 in Westlock Court of Justice to sexual assault.
In a joint sentencing submission by the Crown and defence, the youth, who can’t be identified due to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was given a conditional discharge. This means if he successfully completes conditions for 12 months he won’t have a criminal record.
“This is at the lower end but at the same time when you have someone who has to physically fight to keep from being sexually assaulted you think about the impact on her and the damage that can happen from being put into that situation,” said Justice T. W. Achtymichuk when sentencing the youth.
Crown Prosecutor Andrew Dirgo told the court that it was more of an “attempt than an assault.”
Court heard that in November 2022, two male youth and one female youth were hanging out in Barrhead when she was pushed to the ground, held down, and the boys attempted to grab her breast. She managed to free her wrists and kicked and punched them.
The other male youth was given a probation sentence because his role was greater, said Dirgo.
Defence told the court that this youth was “in a position of complacency as opposed to being the primary perpetrator.”
A trial had been scheduled for the end of the month.
He was ordered to provide his DNA to the Barrhead RCMP by Oct. 11 for the National DNA Data Bank.
