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Predator goes home

Molester welcomed back, previous victim shunned

By DEAN PRITCHARD, SUN MEDIA


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A sexual predator convicted for the second time of abusing one of his granddaughters will return to his northern Manitoba home today with the full support of his band council.

The 62-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his victim, was sentenced yesterday to 18 months time served and released from custody.

A unanimous letter of support signed by Wasagamack First Nation Chief Ronald Harper and six councillors urged the court to approve the man's release and his return home.

"The community of Wasagamack is prepared to utilize its community resources and programs to assist both the accused and complainant," said the letter.

A dozen family members appeared in court in support of the man, who pleaded guilty to one count of sexual interference for a September 2006 incident involving his then 12-year-old granddaughter. Court heard the man drove the girl to the local dump where he asked her to take her pants off. When she refused, he forcefully removed them.


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When he drove the girl home, the man told her to "bring (two other granddaughters) next time."

Police arrested the man days later when the victim told her mother of the incident.

The man was originally charged with molesting the two younger granddaughters as well, but those charges were stayed yesterday. Crown attorney Mike Desautels would only say there were "exigencies" with the case.

INCEST

At the time of the incident, the man was on parole after serving two years of a five-year sentence for incest. He had sexually abused another granddaughter several times when she was 12 and 13, and only admitted it when DNA tests proved he fathered his own great-granddaughter.

According to parole board documents, the man argued he didn't belong in prison.

"I shouldn't be in jail, my family needs my guidance to tell them how to live, to tell them what is right and what is wrong," he was quoted as saying.

At the time of the man's latest arrest, a police source familiar with the incest case told the Winnipeg Sun he was upset the man was welcomed back to Wasagamack with open arms, while his teenage granddaughter, who has since left the reserve, was shunned for speaking to RCMP about the family's secrets.

"They welcomed him back to the community and gave him a whole new group of potential victims," the source said. "Every one of us who has had dealings with this case, our blood just boiled because this was allowed to continue to happen."