Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 25/05) - A Lutsel K'e man who molested a seven-year-old girl during a visit to her home was sentenced to three months in jail last week.

Kenneth Desjarlais admitted in a Yellowknife court Tuesday to touching the young girl between the legs after her mother left the living room to shower.

"This was the exploitation of a small child by a visitor in her house," said territorial court judge Bernadette Schmaltz, who called the crime "despicable."

Crown attorney Jonathan Burke dropped a charge of sexual interference after Desjarlais pleaded guilty to sexual assault.

Schmaltz denied Burke's request to have Desjarlais included on a national registry of sex offenders.

The database requires convicts to notify justice officials if they change address or take a vacation.

Defence attorney James Brydon - who called Desjarlais "not very sophisticated" - argued his client would likely forget to check in with police, setting him up for more criminal charges.