Convicted sex offender awaits punishment
Crown calls for six-month sentence; defendant asks for house arrest
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Daniel Gillis will have to wait until at least late July to learn his punishment for a conviction of sexual assault, three counts of assault and a charge of failing to comply with a court order to stay away from the woman he assaulted.
Convicted sex-offender Daniel Gillis appears outside court following his sentencing hearing on Friday. Both Gillis and his victim teared up as they spoke at the hearing. Gillis is to learn his punishment on July 28. - John McFadden/NNSL photo |
The 51-year-old was convicted of these charges in a trial held earlier this year. He was in territorial court Friday for his sentencing hearing in front of judge Robert Gorin.
According to court documents, two of the assaults date back to 2014. The sexual assault occurred in February of 2016. The victim came to RCMP in May 2016 to report all of the offences. Her name is protected by a publication ban.
Gillis was found guilty of choking the victim on two occasions, the first in 2014 aboard a sailboat, the second in 2016 aboard a houseboat. The breach of court conditions occurred when Gillis drove his boat close to the victim's houseboat in 2016 after he was charged with the assaults.
Gillis, who is self-represented, requested a suspended sentence that would require no jail time. Failing that, he asked for a conditional sentence -essentially house arrest.
He told the judge he desperately wants to attend his daughter's wedding on Aug. 19 in Ontario.
"I would be heartbroken if I was prevented from walking her down the aisle," he told the court.
Crown prosecutor Trevor Johnson called for six months' incarceration. Gillis has a previous sexual assault conviction dating back to 2000 involving a different victim.
Gorin said he wants to see Gillis' plan for a conditional sentence before he decides on punishment. Gillis is to be back in court on July 14 to present that plan. Sentencing is set for July 28.
The victim teared up several times while giving her victim impact statement on Friday.
She said her life has been a living hell since the offences occurred. She struggled to keep her composure as she explained that Gillis lives on another houseboat about 200 metres away from her houseboat, well within sight of her residence.
"This has had a long-term emotional impact on me," she told the court, reading from her prepared statement. "I live in a perpetual state of fear. He has a front-row seat to my life while he parades in front of me."
She said at one point she feared for her life.
"He grabbed me by the neck and pushed me down into the water," she said. "I realized I might have to fight for my life."
Gillis, wearing a blue pin-striped dress shirt and black jeans, also became emotional while giving his sentencing submission to the judge following the victim's statement.
He disputed a pre-sentence report that stated he had not taken responsibility for his actions.
"I acted uncontrollably and regrettably and I accept the finding of the court," Gillis told the judge. "I am sorry for the way I acted. Her fear is real but I pose no threat to her. I cannot see inside her house. There is nowhere else safe to put my houseboat."
Gillis wiped away tears as he told Gorin no amount of jail time would equal the losses he has already suffered.
He also argued his criminal record should not be admitted as evidence during sentencing as he was pardoned for the 2000 sexual assault but the judge said the record was still admissible. Gillis was charged with another breach in May of this year. That charge remains before the court.
The case has garnered a lot of attention from the public. Court security had to turn several people away on Friday as the courtroom was already full of interested spectators.
