EditorSA国际影视传媒檚 note: This story contains details that some readers may find disturbing.

A Tlicho man has been sentenced to 45 months in prison for the sexual assault of a young girl.

Richard BishopSA国际影视传媒檚 sentencing hearing occurred on Feb. 27, and on April 4, NWT Supreme Court judge Louise Charbonneau finalized her verdict and shared the reasons for her decision.

The incident in question occurred on Aug. 16, 2021, when Bishop was 54 and the victim was eight. Bishop, a neighbour of the girl, encountered her at a Behchoko gas station. After buying her a packet of nuts and putting her bicycle in the bed of his truck, he then drove the victim to the Ko Gocho Sportsplex Centre, though Charbonneau noted that itSA国际影视传媒檚 not clear whether he offered to drive the girl, or if she asked for a ride.

Bishop later picked up the victim from the sportsplex. The girl believed that Bishop would SA国际影视传媒渄rive her home,SA国际影视传媒� but instead he drove her to the nearby community of Edzo, where he parked by a playground, took off her pants and underwear and exposed himself to her. He then sexually assaulted her SA国际影视传媒� though penetration is not believed to have occurred, according to the court transcript SA国际影视传媒� and he kissed her on the mouth SA国际影视传媒渞epeatedly.SA国际影视传媒� Later, he put her clothes back on, drove her back to Behchoko, and dropped her off near her home.

The victim told her mother about the incident. The mom, who had been worried and looking for her daughter, reported the incident to the police. Following contact with the , the clothes the victim had been wearing at the time were seized for forensic investigation, and BishopSA国际影视传媒檚 DNA was found on her underwear, SA国际影视传媒渋ncluding on the inside of the crotch.SA国际影视传媒�

Bishop was charged with sexual assault and entered a guilty plea SA国际影视传媒渟ome time ago.SA国际影视传媒� His sentencing was delayed several times, in part due to last yearSA国际影视传媒檚 wildfire evacuations.

The Crown prosecutor and defence lawyer were SA国际影视传媒渇ar apartSA国际影视传媒� in their sentencing recommendations, Charbonneau noted, and her decision was based on many factors.

One point of consideration was the impact on the victim, as well as the girlSA国际影视传媒檚 mother. The victim, the judge said, SA国际影视传媒渘ow has a distrust of others she did not have before,SA国际影视传媒� and SA国际影视传媒渟truggles to understand what happened to her.SA国际影视传媒� The victimSA国际影视传媒檚 mother, meanwhile, deals with feelings of grief, guilt and anger, and now worries that her children arenSA国际影视传媒檛 safe.

On the other hand, BishopSA国际影视传媒檚 background was also carefully considered.

While heSA国际影视传媒檚 believed to have had a healthy family life where Tlicho customs were nurtured, he was sexually abused by a teacher in grades six and seven. He also faces a number of difficulties that the judge deemed relevant to his sentencing. He cannot read or write in Tlicho or English, and has a SA国际影视传媒渧ery limited understandingSA国际影视传媒� of the latter language. He also has mobility issues due to a hip problem, has SA国际影视传媒渟evere hearing impairment in both ears,SA国际影视传媒� in addition to a heart condition.

These factors were a large part of the defenceSA国际影视传媒檚 calls for a shorter sentence SA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒渢wo years, less a daySA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒� which would allow Bishop to serve his prison sentence in the NWT, where he would be more likely to encounter other Tlicho speakers and have access to his family. The judge agreed that these factors could aid in BishopSA国际影视传媒檚 rehabilitation, whereas he would not benefit SA国际影视传媒渇rom any rehabilitative programming delivered in the federal correctional system.SA国际影视传媒�

However, Charbonneau noted that while Bishop admitted to his crime, he could not provide SA国际影视传媒渁ny explanation or understandingSA国际影视传媒� of what caused him to assault the victim, offering only that he SA国际影视传媒渨ent crazy.SA国际影视传媒� BishopSA国际影视传媒檚 friendly relationship with the victim was also referenced, as was his decision to drive her out of town, SA国际影视传媒渂ecause it suggests an element of planning.SA国际影视传媒�

Having considered all of this, the judge sentenced Bishop to 45 months imprisonment, less the 57 days he spent in custody leading up to sentencing. That means he will have to serve 42.5 months, roughly three and a half years, from the date of sentencing.

It is unclear where Bishop will be sent, as the NWT Supreme Court SA国际影视传媒渄oes not have the power to order where an offender will serve their sentence.SA国际影视传媒� However, Charbonneau issued a SA国际影视传媒渟trong recommendationSA国际影视传媒� that Bishop be allowed to serve his sentence within the territory.

SA国际影视传媒淚 make this recommendation because of his Indigenous heritage; his personal circumstances; his medical conditions, including his hearing impairment; and the fact that he is a unilingual Tlicho speaker,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

In addition to jail time, BishopSA国际影视传媒檚 sentencing includes numerous conditions. He will not be allowed to attend public parks, swimming areas, schools, daycare centres, community centres or playgrounds where people under 16 are likely to be present. He cannot be within 100 metres of the victimSA国际影视传媒檚 residence. He will also not be allowed to take any work or volunteer positions that will involve people under 16. Lastly, he will not be allowed to have any contact with people under 16 unless there is another sober adult present.