Indefinite sentence given to sex offender
By Delon Shurtz on January 15, 2021.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com
A 36-year-old man who sexually assaulted five adolescent girls between 2003 and 2017 has been designated a dangerous offender and sentenced to a prison term with no set end date.
Madam Justice Johnna Kubik sentenced Trevor Philip Pritchard Thursday in Lethbridge Court of Queen’s Bench to an indeterminate penitentiary term, and said the offender preyed on underage girls and showed a pattern of persistent, aggressive behaviour.
Kubik said that despite receiving some counselling and treatment, Pritchard has not shown any remorse for the violent assaults, choosing instead to blame his victims, deny his offences – even the ones to which he pleaded guilty – and justify his behaviour.
“There are no mitigating circumstances in this case,” Kubik bluntly pointed out.
Pritchard was found guilty in January 2019 following a trial on charges of sexual assault, luring and possession of child pornography in relation to several underage girls. Sentencing was adjourned, however, pending the outcome of the dangerous-offender hearing, which concluded last month.
Pritchard pleaded guilty in 2018 to sexual assault and child luring in relation to an underage girl, and he was sentenced in February 2019 to six and a half years in a federal penitentiary.
Court was told Pritchard carefully planned the assault and, using Facebook, carefully groomed the girl to trust him over several months before he finally took her to his house – under the pretense of giving her a job – and forced her into various sex acts. He then drove her home and threatened to kill her if she told anyone.
Pritchard also has convictions for sexually assaulting underage girls from 2004, 2009 and 2010. Some of his later offences were committed while he was still bound by release conditions from previous convictions, Kubik pointed out.
“I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Pritchard poses a present threat of future harm to adolescent females,” she said.
Kubik said the young victims sustained physical injuries at Pritchard’s hands, and suffer from low self-esteem and depression.
Some of the girls were bullied by their peers, while others resorted to harming themselves. Two of the girls attempted suicide.
During the dangerous offender hearing last month, Calgary lawyer Andre Ouellette suggested a determinite sentence between seven and nine years in prison, with a long-term supervision order, would be more appropriate than an indeterminate sentence.
Ouellette said Pritchard is not a pedophile, but highly sexed, which leads to impulsive behaviour. He suggested Pritchard’s behaviour could be controlled with treatment and management, combined with a long-term, community based program.
However, Kubik said Thursday Pritchard needs constant supervision, yet community resources for around-the-clock monitoring don’t exist. She also noted Pritchard has received counseling and participated in various programs for sex offenders, but he resisted those interventions and continued to re-offend.
She added protecting society is her primary consideration, and a determinate sentence with long-term supervisions will not work.
Pritchard’s indeterminate sentence actually takes effect as of Jan. 17, 2017, the day he was arrested. He will not be eligible for parole for seven years from the time he was taken into custody, and when he is eventually released, he will be subject to parole conditions for the rest of his life.
“An indeterminate sentence is not a life sentence,” Kubik said. “Mr. Pritchard needs to engage in treatment, accept institutional support and take responsibility for the offences he has committed in order to mitigate his risk factors for re-offending.”
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