A former gymnastics instructor and ex-bylaw officer pleaded guilty to a charge of luring Tuesday, admitting to sending a sexually explicit image to a teen he once coached.
Ricky Lee Sutherland, 50, appeared in a Yellowknife courtroom for what was supposed to be day-one of a four-day trial in NWT Supreme Court.
Instead, after reaching a late plea agreement with prosecutors, Sutherland pleaded guilty to one count of luring a person under the age of 18 for the purpose of facilitating a child pornography offence. A conviction SA国际影视传媒� formally entered by Justice Louise Charbonneau on Tuesday SA国际影视传媒� carries a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in jail.
Sutherland intends to launch a constitutional challenge against the mandatory jail term to argue for a lower sentence.
Sutherland, who now lives in Ontario, was hired as a municipal enforcement division (MED) constable in February 2015, city records show.
According to an agreed statement of facts read in court, Sutherland began coaching gymnastics at a city club in July 2016. Prior to his new job at the club, Sutherland volunteered with the same collective while still working as an MED officer for the city of Yellowknife.
In the fall of 2016, Sutherland and all other staff were warned not to befriend gymnasts on social media.
Between Feb. 11 and Feb. 12, 2017, according to the admitted facts, Sutherland SA国际影视传媒� in Toronto at the time SA国际影视传媒� sent the female victim multiple SnapChat messages.
SnapChat, a social media app popular among young people, allows users to send photos and messages that disappear after a few seconds.
The court heard SutherlandSA国际影视传媒檚 penis was visible in at least one of the SnapChat photos he sent to the victim.
When he returned to Yellowknife, Sutherland admitted to coaching staff heSA国际影视传媒檇 sent inappropriate photos to the victim.
He was fired as a result.
Sutherland, the court heard, later texted the victim to apologize before he had been charged.
SA国际影视传媒業 hate what you did to meSA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淩ick wholeheartedly used to be one of my best friends,SA国际影视传媒� wrote the victim in an impact statement read in court by prosecutor Morgan Fane.
SA国际影视传媒淗e taught me to be myself, not only in sports, but in life. You made me feel like I could do anything I set my mind to,SA国际影视传媒� the victim wrote.
But she stated, Sutherland SA国际影视传媒渟adly,SA国际影视传媒� turned out not to be the person she thought he was.
SA国际影视传媒淵ou took advantage of my innocence,SA国际影视传媒� wrote the victim,SA国际影视传媒� adding she was SA国际影视传媒渂eyond confused and scared,SA国际影视传媒� when the offences took place. SA国际影视传媒淚 felt so betrayed.SA国际影视传媒�
The victim now struggles with paranoia, often not wanting to leave her home. When she hears SutherlandSA国际影视传媒檚 name, she SA国际影视传媒渟hakes.SA国际影视传媒�
Sometimes, the court heard, the victim asks herself SA国际影视传媒渨hy would you choose me?SA国际影视传媒� But the victim is thankful, she wrote, that what happened to her didnSA国际影视传媒檛 happen to other gymnasts.
SA国际影视传媒淚 feel haunted by you everyday. I canSA国际影视传媒檛 say I hate you, but I hate what you did to me,SA国际影视传媒� wrote the victim.
Mandatory minimum challenge set for July
Now convicted, Sutherland wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be sentenced until after he has made submissions to challenge the mandatory one-year sentence for luring.
Arguments from SutherlandSA国际影视传媒檚 defence and the Crown are expected to take place in Yellowknife on July 2.
