IQALUIT
Defrocked Oblate priest Eric Dejaeger is appealing 24 convictions for sex crimes committed against Inuit children and youth between four and 20 years of age in Iglulik between 1978 and 1982, the Crown prosecutor's office has confirmed.

Convicted child molester and former Oblate priest Eric Dejaeger, arriving the Nunavut Court of Justice in Iqaluit Jan. 20, is appealing 24 convictions for sex crimes. - NNSL file photo

Dejaeger appeared in the Nunavut Court of Justice in Iqaluit Nov. 10.

At trial in late 2013 and early 2014, Dejaeger pleaded guilty to eight charges. Justice Robert Kilpatrick convicted him on a further 24 sex crimes of 72 charges in a decision in late 2014. Dejaeger received a 19-year sentence, less eight years for time served, earlier this year.

Dejaeger is scheduled to appear in court again March 9, once the Nunavut's Legal Services Board decides whether it will pay for the cost of a lawyer.

In late October, the former priest was sentenced to three additional five-year sentences for sex crimes against three children, two boys and a girl under the age of 10 when the abuse began, between Jan. 1, 1974, and Dec. 31, 1976, in northern Alberta and Edmonton.

Those sentences are to be served concurrently with each other and the 19-year sentence, according to a written decision released Nov. 13 by Justice Sue Cooper.

Crown attorney Barry McLaren and defence counsel Malcolm Kempt put forward a joint submission on sentencing and Cooper agreed.

Much like the Iglulik victims, the Alberta victims struggled with substance abuse, depression, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts and difficulties with relationships following the illegal actions by Dejaeger.

"The victims are not limited to RW, TT, and JT. TT talks about her parents and the support they have provided to her since these incidents have been disclosed. One can only imagine the guilt they suffer from, having trusted their very young children to the care of their abuser," stated Cooper.

In reviewing Dejaeger's criminal background, Cooper stated: "It is hoped that all victims of Mr. Dejaeger have now come forward and that these cases bring to an end the criminal prosecutions flowing from a long legacy of abuse of position, abuse of power, and, most tragically, abuse of children."

Convictions and sentences date back to 1990, first stemming from similar incidents in Baker Lake.

The Alberta incidents pre-date the Baker Lake and Iglulik crimes, although the charges were laid later.

Explaining the concurrent sentences, Cooper stated: "As discussed when Mr. Dejaeger was sentenced on the convictions arising from Iglulik, the court must also consider the principle of totality and whether the effect of consecutive sentences will exceed the overall moral culpability of the offender. This principle is set out in s. 718.2 of the Criminal Code, which provides that when consecutive sentences are imposed, the combined sentence should not be unduly long or harsh."

Cooper acknowledges the victims may not understand this legal point.

"Joint submission on sentence is often the end result of a lengthy, difficult negotiation between Crown counsel and defence counsel. I understand that this is often difficult for the public to accept or understand, and particularly so for victims who feel that such a process minimizes what has happened to them," Cooper stated.

However, she states, "The sentencing range for each of the individual charges is within the range and reflects the seriousness and the moral culpability of Mr. Dejaeger."

Dejaeger is now 69 years old and suffering from a multitude of health issues, Cooper notes in the decision.

The former priest has been in custody at the Baffin Correctional Centre since 2011.

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