A 43-year-old Prince George area man was sentenced Wednesday to nine years in prison for committing incest against his daughter.
In issuing the term, Prince George provincial court judge Dan Weatherly said he agreed with Crown counsel's characterization of the acts, committed over a two-to-three year period beginning when the girl was 11 years old, as "reprehensible."
The man, who cannot be named under a court-ordered publication ban, had guardianship of the girl after his relationship with her mother had broke down.
"She had a right that her father would provide for her, protect her from harm and rather than do that he took advantage of the situation for his own sexual gratification," Weatherly said.
Weatherly effectively agreed with Crown prosecution's position on sentencing, which was for nine to 10 years. Defence counsel had argued for five to seven years.
The sentencing range for the offence is five to 14 years.
Since his conviction the man has continued to deny committing the acts. He told the author of a psychological report he believes the daughter has been molested but by another member of her immediate family. And he accused the mother and daughter of conspiring against him.
The author noted he had a tendency to be circumspect in answering questions that might place him in a negative light. The man has a criminal record consisting of petty offences and shown a history of denying guilt and deflecting blame, even in instances where he pleaded guilty, the author also noted.
The man was found guilty of the offence in February following a trial. At the time, Weatherly said the verdict came down to the credibility of the witnesses and on that aspect, he rejected much of what the man had to say.
Standing in the prisoner's box on Wednesday, the man told Weatherly he had made a mistake and convicted him in a case in which there was no factual evidence.
The man also continues to face a charge of breaching his recognizance by allegedly trying to talk to the girl during a break at a hearing earlier this month. She was not in the courtroom on Wednesday.
