An Edmonton man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for sexually exploiting a teenage girl over several years, with a judge ruling he deliberately manipulated religious authority to groom and abuse his victim.
Exploitation of Trust and Faith
Court of King's Bench Justice Michael Kraus delivered the sentence on Wednesday against the 56-year-old offender, identified only as EGM to protect the victim's identity. The judge found the man sexually abused the victim between 2008 and 2012, beginning when she was just 13 years old.
Justice Kraus emphasized that EGM's exploitation of religious indoctrination represented a particularly aggravating factor in the case. The offender told the victim that it was God's will that they be together and that their sexual relationship was meant to be.
Pattern of Grooming and Abuse
The victim, who is 25 years younger than EGM, is related to him through marriage and viewed him as a father figure or big brother. Their inappropriate relationship began with conversations about sex when she was 13, with the first sexual touching occurring just before her 15th birthday.
EGM intensified his grooming through religious manipulation. He had the victim attend church with him starting around age 14 and eventually performed her baptism. Although the specific church wasn't identified in court documents, EGM maintained close relationships with church leadership and participated in youth conversion activities.
The abuse escalated to regular sexual encounters at EGM's trailer and later his townhome. The court heard that while the victim acknowledged having a crush on EGM and being a willing participant, the sexual activity occurred both before and after she reached Alberta's age of consent, which is 16.
Justice Served After Delayed Reporting
The victim first disclosed the abuse to her parents in 2012 but didn't report it to police until 2020. By the time of sentencing, EGM was receiving AISH benefits and living with his mother, having lost his truck driving job.
Justice Kraus rejected EGM's claims that all sexual activity occurred after the victim turned 16 and that he wasn't in a position of trust. The judge convicted EGM of sexual interference, sexual assault, and invitation to sexual touching following a trial last fall.
The case highlights the severe consequences for those who exploit positions of trust and religious authority to prey on vulnerable children, with the Canadian justice system delivering a significant prison term for these devastating crimes.
