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Youth pleads guilty to sex assaults

Crown seeks long-term offender status

Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 13/03) - A 16-year-old youth convicted of sexually assaulting two girls, ages 11 and 12, may be monitored by the National Parole Board for up to 10 years after he is released from custody.

The youth pleaded guilty to sexual assault and sexual assault with a weapon in Supreme Court on Thursday.

He pleaded not guilty to two counts of forcible confinement and two counts of uttering death threats. These charges are expected to be dealt with once the sentencing on the guilty pleas is complete.

Long term offender

After listening to the facts of the case, Supreme Court Justice Ted Richard agreed the youth should be assessed by a psychologist to determine if he should be designated a along term offender.

Such a designation can impose parole board supervision for up to 10 years and is one step down from adangerous offender status which allows the courts to impose an indefinite sentence.

Niblock told the court the youth, then 15, grabbed a 12-year-old girl on a trail behind Sir John Franklin high school Sept. 29 around 5 p.m.

He blindfolded her and told her not to scream or he would kill her. The youth then sexually assaulted her. He threatened her, saying he knows where she lives and would tie her up and throw her in the lake if she told anyone.

The girl did not immediately tell her parents because she believed him.

According to Niblock, the victim said the youth assaulted her for 45 minutes.

Then on Oct. 8, the youth grabbed another girl on Gitzel Street and put the blade of a knife to her throat.

He sexually assaulted the 11-year-old girl on a park bench.

Previous record

In 2001, the youth was convicted of sexually assaulting three young girls in Lutsel Ke, unlawfully entering a dwelling place and break and enter with intent.

Instead of serving his 18-month sentence, the youth went to a Calgary treatment centre for youths convicted of sex offences. He spent 16 months there.

Very soon after his release, the youth committed the latest sex offences, said Niblock.

Niblock submitted a an assessment by Dr. Rueben Lang, a professor at the University of Albertas faculty of medicine, who deemed the youth likely to reoffend.

The youth will be sentenced next fall after the assessment is complete.