A Prince George man has been sentenced to six months house arrest followed by two years probation for sexually assaulting a teenaged co-worker.
Dillon Craig Reid, 36, was issued the term Monday in provincial court for a Jan. 26, 2016 incident in which he followed the 16-year-old girl into a washroom where she had gone to change into her uniform.
Reid pulled down her leggings and underwear, grabbed and kissed her bare buttocks. Reid immediately backed away, the court has heard, when she told him no, and ordered him to "get out" and "get back to work."
Crown counsel had been seeking three to six months in jail while defence counsel argued for four months house arrest - formally known as a conditional sentence order.
Both agreed a term of probation was in order.
In reaching her decision, judge Judith Doulis noted Reid had no previous criminal record, that the act was brief and he has stayed away from the girl ever since. He has also lived up to conditions for the entire 21 months he has been on bail and, while he was fired from the job for the incident, has found other work and has remained employed, Doulis also noted.
However, Doulis also said Reid's actions left an impact on the victim. She has since moved away from the city for fear she might encounter Reid once again and is receiving counselling.
Given a chance to speak to the court, Reid said he thought "everything was OK" at the time of the incident.
"But immediately afterwards it was made very clear to me that was not the case and I've deeply regretted it ever since," Reid said.
Reid will be subject to a curfew during the conditional sentence and will be required to take any treatment, assessment or counselling as ordered by his probation officer.
