A 35-year-old Prince George man has been sentenced to 22 months in jail and three years probation for sexually assaulting his 16-year-old babysitter.
In issuing the term, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Ron Tindale called Tyler Taumas Rafuse's actions "serious and disturbing."
But in accepting a joint submission on sentencing from Crown and defence counsels, Tindale also noted Rafuse pleaded guilty and has expressed "sincere remorse" for his actions.
"Nonetheless, this is a serious offence," Tindale added.
Rafuse forced unprotected sex on the girl in January 2014 after he asked her to come over to his home to help him pack his belonging because he had just separated from his wife.
He had been drinking and had taken some OxyContin, a drug similar to morphine, and the "situation deteriorated," Tindale said in a written reasons for judgment.
The range of sentencing for such an offence is two to four years. That the joint submission was for somewhat less than two years is explained by some of the difficulties Rafuse has encountered due to notices put up saying he was a sexual offender, Tindale said.
As well, his probation officer ordered him to move out of the apartment in
Fort St. John where he was living because there were young children in the building.
Rafuse was sentenced on Jan. 4.
