Sex assault gets nine months; Chatham man also on a weapons ban
Author: ERICA BAJER
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A 35-year-old Chatham man who repeatedly molested his two nephews will remain behind bars.

The man, who can't be named to protect the identity of the children, pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of sexual assault and breach of a court order.

He was sentenced to nine months in jail.

However, he was given double credit for the two months he's spent in pre-trial custody and has five months left to serve.

Ontario Court Justice Stephen Fuerth also sentenced the man to three years of probation, banned him from being where children 14 and under spend time for 20 years, placed a 10-year weapons prohibition on him and ordered him to submit a sample of his DNA to the national databank.

The man will also be on the Sex Offender Registry.

"The message has to be clear - the abuse of children in our community won't be tolerated under any circumstances," Fuerth said. "It's completely contemptible and worthy of significant punishment." Defence lawyer David Jacklin asked that the man serve a further two months and assistant Crown attorney Randy Semeniuk suggested a jail term in the range of seven to nine months.

Before sentencing, Fuerth said even nine months seems at the low end for the crimes.

Semeniuk told the court the man abused his nephews when they were between the ages of 11 and 12 by sexually touching them between 2004 and 2006.

Some of the incidents happened while the accused was babysitting.

Semeniuk said the man was released with conditions not to associate with the victims.

However, last summer one of the victims went to the man's house to use his computer. The man let him in, breaching the court order.

Jacklin said the man, who is heavily involved with his church, accepted responsibility for his actions.

"I am very remorseful and willing to get the counselling I need and pay the price for what I did," the man said before sentencing.

Semeniuk said the accused has apologized to the victims through letters.

The Crown said an aggravating factor in the case is the fact the man was in a position of trust to the boys.

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