Woman handed 16-month sentence for molesting girl
Former substitute teacher in Sachs Harbour involved in sexual relationship with 15-year old
Sarah Ladik
Northern News Services
Monday, May 9, 2016
IKAAHUUK/SACHS HARBOUR
A woman who once worked as a substitute teacher in Sachs Harbour received a 16-month jail sentence last week after carrying on a sexual relationship with a teenage girl.
Allyson Acheson, 22, pleaded guilty in Inuvik territorial court to sexual interference, stemming from incidents occurring between March and May of 2015 in Sachs Harbour. Related charges, including sexual exploitation, were dropped by the Crown prosecution.
Prosecutor Sebastien Lafrance told the court May 2 that while the accused pleaded guilty right away and showed remorse, the fact that the abuse went on for several months "countless times" was an aggravating factor in the crime.
He also noted that there was no meaningful breach of trust, as the relationship did not begin at school and Acheson was never the victim's teacher. The girl was 15-years old at the time of the offence.
"Child abuse must be taken seriously in any court in the country and in the world," said Lafrance.
The prosecutor said the victim's mother reported that the victim was suffering from suicidal thoughts some time after the incident.
Defence lawyer Steven Fix called the situation "messy." Judge Bernadette Schmaltz, however, did not agree.
"It's criminal," she said.
"I'm not sure it's messy but it is criminal."
While handing down her judgment, Schmaltz told the accused she hoped she felt remorse.
"The victim spoke about killing herself," she said.
"I hope you think about the frame of mind she was in."
In addition to 16 months in jail, Acheson was sentenced to a year of probation, as well as having her name entered in the national sexual offenders registry.
"I just want to move on," Acheson told the court in tears, May 2.
"This is the hardest thing I've been through in my entire life ... I wish I could apologize to everyone ... I just want to move on."
