Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

RANKIN INLET (Sep 02/98) - A 19-year-old Rankin Inlet man is headed to a southern penitentiary after he choked a woman and forced her to have sex with him.

Joseph Jack (Jackie) Kavik stood stone-faced last Tuesday as territorial court Judge Michel Bourassa sentenced him to three-and-a- half years for the April 4 attack.

Bourassa acknowledged the fact that sending a teen to a federal institution is harsh, but maintained that there has to be severe penalties for those who commit sexual assaults.

"In these matters, I'm really reluctant to send a 19-year-old boy to a federal penitentiary, but in cases of sex assaults -- there's so many in this community -- there has to be a deterrent," he said.

Bourassa said that Kavik brutally raped his victim both physically and emotionally. Crown prosecutor Judy Halyk describe how Kavik's victim is still mentally disturbed by the attack.

"One has to wonder what goes on in some men's heads," Bourassa said. "Rape has been unacceptable since the beginning of time. Surely a woman, as extreme as it is, can get as drunk as she wants without having to worry (about getting raped.)"

Kavik pleaded guilty.

Bourassa handed down the heavy sentence despite defence lawyer Tom Boyd's request for a term in a territorial facility. Boyd described Kavik as a teen with a supportive family and well on his way to rehabilitation. He even worked at the youth drop-in centre for the summer, he said.

Halyk asked for a three-year sentence.

Kavik also faces eight months probation after he gets out of jail when he must report to the RCMP once a month.