A Behchoko man convicted of sexually assaulting a sleeping victim in her early teens while out on bail for another sexual assault received a 4-year, nine month sentence in NWT Supreme Court.
Forty-two-year-old Peter John Lafferty, who previously pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, hung his head as Justice Louise Charbonneau handed down her decision Friday, accepting a joint-submission from the Crown and Lafferty's defence.
SA国际影视传媒淭his is not normal. This should not be happening,SA国际影视传媒 said Charbonneau, who decried the SA国际影视传媒渆pidemicSA国际影视传媒 of sexual assaults on sleeping women and girls in NWT communities.
In early October of 2016, the court heard, a woman was drinking heavily at LaffertySA国际影视传媒檚 residence with friends before passing out. A friend, who tried to wake the woman up but couldnSA国际影视传媒檛, left LaffertySA国际影视传媒檚 house and called SA国际影视传媒 concerned that her friend was intoxicated and alone with the defendant.
With no answer from Lafferty, responding Mounties kicked down his door. Lafferty was found passed out inside, with the highly intoxicated woman, who was awoken by paramedics, nearby.
Two condoms found inside the residence SA国际影视传媒 sent for testing along with Lafferty and the victimSA国际影视传媒檚 clothes SA国际影视传媒 contained DNA that matched that of the defendant and the victim.
Lafferty was arrested, but was soon released on an undertaking. Just three weeks later, he committed another sexual assault on a passed out victim SA国际影视传媒 this time a girl in her early teens.
After a night of drinking at the offenderSA国际影视传媒檚 home on Oct. 22, 2016, the girl awoke to Lafferty having sex with her.
DNA analysis of a condom found inside the residence yielded matches for Lafferty and the victim. Lafferty was taken into custody later that day SA国际影视传媒 where heSA国际影视传媒檚 remained since.
SA国际影视传媒淗e took advantage of an opportunity that presented itself on two occasions, the second while he was released on an undertaking,SA国际影视传媒 said Crown prosecutor Jeannie Scott during a facts and sentencing hearing on Tuesday.
In 1999, Lafferty was convicted for sexually assaulting a sleeping woman.
SA国际影视传媒淪entencing needs to send a message to Lafferty that this conduct is intolerable,SA国际影视传媒 added Scott, who lamented the prevalence of SA国际影视传媒渨idespreadSA国际影视传媒 sexual assault on sleeping victims in the territory.
Lafferty, who was intoxicated when he committed the assaults, has little memory of the crimes, but told Charbonneau Tuesday he was sorry for the SA国际影视传媒渟tupidSA国际影视传媒 acts and that he was drinking heavily at the time to numb grief.
Handing down her decision Friday, Charbonneau said describing the crimes as SA国际影视传媒渟tupid,SA国际影视传媒 fails to adequately capture the gravity of the offences.
Charbonneau said Lafferty committed an SA国际影视传媒渁wfulSA国际影视传媒 violation of the victims' sexual integrity.
She said women and girls in the North should be able to go to sleep without worrying about being raped.
Despite the prevalence of the SA国际影视传媒渢errible cycle" of sexual assaults on sleeping victims, Charbonneau stressed communities shouldn't accept the behaviour as normal.
She added she hopes Lafferty will take advantage of programming offered to repeat sexual offenders while serving his time.
Lafferty must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, submit a sample of his DNA and cannot possess a firearm for 10 years after his release.
With credit for time served in pre-trial custody SA国际影视传媒 22 months SA国际影视传媒 Lafferty will spend a little of 2 years and nine months behind bars.