Rae-Edzo (Feb 20/06) - A 20-year-old Rae man will spend six months under house arrest after being convicted of sexual assault.

Michael Bruno Chinkon, 20, was sentenced Feb. 3 in Yellowknife Territorial Court by Judge Brian Bruser.

According to a transcript of the hearing, Chinkon trapped the teenaged victim in a washroom during a house party in Rae on Jan. 26, 2005, holding his hand over her mouth to stop her from calling for help during the assault.

Bruser said the victim, 18 years old when she testified, continues to be haunted by the attack.

"In the pre-sentence report, she is quoted as saying 'I still have nightmares and trouble sleeping, so I missed lots of school and it's hard to concentrate on school.'"

The judge described the sexual assault as "one of opportunity and impulse."

He agreed with the defence lawyer that Chinkon should receive a "conditional sentence" to be served in the community rather than the 12-15 month jail sentence recommended by the Crown lawyer.Bruser said the presentence report indicates Chinkon is "an immature 20-year-old" and the judge worried that jail would do more harm than good.

"His immaturity would act like a sponge in a prison setting, soaking up the criminality of the characters housed with him.

"His rehabilitation can best be achieved, as can his reintegration, by a conditional sentence order."

Under terms of the sentence, Chinkon was ordered to stay with a relative in Ndilo and remain in the home unless he goes out to work off 200 hours of community service, attend a medical appointment, school or church, or one of a number of court-approved activities.

He is banned from Rae, but allowed to spend up to two hours a week in the community, with authorization of his corrections supervisor.

Bruser gave Chinkon a stern warning to take the sentence seriously.

"If you are brought before the court and if the court is satisfied that you have breached this conditional sentence order, expect to be locked up."