A Prince George-area man has been sentenced to two years in jail for breaking into the homes of two women and sexually assaulting one of them.
Rodney Gene Lindstrom, 34, was also sentenced to two years probation for the offences, committed in August 2010, when he received the term Tuesday in Prince George provincial court.
Both women were known to Lindstrom and on both occasions, he was heavily intoxicated and knew they would be alone in their homes, judge Michael Brecknell said Tuesday in giving his reasons for sentencing.
In one incident, Lindstrom entered the woman's home through an unlocked door while she was asleep and tried to pull the bed covers off her. She awoke, yelled at Lindstrom and retreated into the bathroom and he left soon after.
In the other, Lindstrom also entered through an unlocked door, ostensibly in search of more alcohol, when he found the woman sleeping on her bed and began fondling her. When she woke up and told him to leave, Lindstrom replied "I thought we were partying," Brecknell said.
After a few minutes, Lindstrom did leave after asking her not to tell anyone.
The case had been before the courts for 766 days and and Brecknell noted Lindstrom had forced the two women to testify before eventually pleading guilty to one count of sexual assault and two counts of breaking and entering to commit an offence.
Brecknell characterized the offences as "far more predatory than opportunistic" and also noted Lindstrom had a history of abusing drugs and alcohol to the point of blacking out but still persisted in using them.
According to a psychiatric assessment, Lindstrom's probability for reoffending is low as long as he is sober and since the offences, he has abstained from drugs and alcohol and has joined a church group, the court heard.
Crown prosecution had been seeking a four-year jail term and Lindstrom's defence lawyer was seeking a two-year conditional sentence, in which he would serve the term at home, followed by two years probation.
Brecknell opted for a "moderate period of incarceration followed by a lengthy probation."
One of the victims attended the sentencing hearing.
"I wish he would've got more but it's better than what I expected," she said.
