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Wrigley man gets two years in jail
Court heard he sexually assaulted friend while camping in Fort Simpson

John McFadden
Northern News Services
Published Monday, October 13, 2014

PEHDZEH KI/WRIGLEY
A Wrigley man has been sentenced to two years less a day in jail after he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a female friend at a campground on June 2, 2013.

Lucas Cli, 26, was handed his punishment by Judge Karan Shaner at NWT Supreme Court in Yellowknife on Oct 6.

It followed a joint submission from Crown prosecutor Marc Lecorre and Cli's lawyer Mike Martin, who both recommended the two-year sentence.

The court heard that Cli had gone camping with two female friends in Fort Simpson when both Cli and the victim became extremely intoxicated. The woman had gone to sleep in a tent but awoke to find Cli sexually assaulting her.

The court heard that after she got angry and yelled, Cli left the tent.

Cli appeared in court wearing a grey dress shirt and black pants. He was not in custody but was guarded by an RCMP officer while sitting beside his lawyer.

Martin told the court that Cli, a father of two children, lives with his mother in Wrigley in a cabin with no plumbing. His mother, a residential school survivor, has some health issues and despite having seven brothers and sisters, Cli has been the primary caregiver for her, said Martin.

He told the court that Cli's father died in 2011.

"He's had to deal with alcoholism in the family and he himself was sexually abused by family members," Martin said.

In handing down her sentence, Shaner said it was a heartbreaking case.

She noted that Cli has been a productive member of society, including working this past summer fighting fires in the Wrigley area. However, his was a ugly, shameful crime, she said.

"The victim was violated by someone she trusted," Shaner said. "She went to sleep in a vulnerable state."

She acknowledged that Cli's judgement was affected by his alcohol consumption that night. By going to jail he has left his mother in a bind and two kids without child support, said Shaner.

Shaner also ordered that Cli be prohibited from possessing firearms for 10 years. His name will also be added to the national sex offender registry.

Cli has a conviction from 2009 for assault with a weapon. He received nine months probation at that time.

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