Four-year sentence for sex with minor
Man, 19 at the time, had sexual intercourse with 13-year-old girl
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Monday, April 24, 2017
HAY RIVER
A 22-year-old man has been sentenced to four years in prison for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl.
Dennis Shatilla, who was 19 at the time of the offence, was handed the sentence by Justice Karan Shaner in Hay River's NWT Supreme Court on April 10.
Shatilla was found guilty during a jury trial in early February of one incident of having sexual relations with the girl.
According to Crown prosecutor Blair MacPherson, the complainant, in her testimony during the trial, described the incident as "sexual intercourse." The incident occurred in early 2014 in Hay River.
A publication ban by the court prohibits the release of any information which could identify the victim.
Shatilla was living in Hay River at the time. He was also spending time in Buffalo Narrows, Sask.
MacPherson agreed the sentence was reasonable considering the circumstances of the offence.
"The sentencing judge applied the applicable law," he said.
"The starting point she correctly mentioned is three years and then from there she considered the background of the offender and also the aggravating features in the matter, and she moved up to four years."
The main aggravating factor in the case was the age of the victim.
The girl and her father testified for the Crown during the trial.
No evidence was called by the defence.
The defence had asked for a sentence of three to three-and-a-half years, while the Crown asked for four to four-and-a-half years, noted MacPherson.
"And the sentencing judge, Justice Shaner, split the difference and gave Mr. Shatilla four years."
The judge received a pre-sentence report, which gave background information on Shatilla, and a victim impact statement made by the complainant.
Submissions by counsel were made on the morning of April 10 and the judge's decision was delivered that afternoon.
In addition to the prison sentence, Shatilla was ordered to provide a DNA sample, his name will be added to the National Sex Offender Registry for 20 years, and he will be prohibited from possessing a firearm for 10 years.
