A Prince George man found guilty by a jury of sexually interfering with a person under 16 years old has been sentenced to two years in jail followed by one year probation.
While both sides largely agreed on how much jail time Paul Veeken, 43, should be issued, Crown prosecution had been seeking three years probation while defence counsel argued for two years plus a day in a federal institution without probation.
In a decision issued Wednesday, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Elliott Myers settled on one year probation with a condition that he participate in a sexual offender treatment program after he is released if ordered to do so by a probation officer.
Veeken has continued to deny committing the offence and told the author of a pre-sentence report that once he's served his time, he will continue to involve children in his activities, but not in situations where he could be exposed to allegations.
Veeken also indicated a lack of willingness to participate in a treatment program while behind bars. Defence counsel had argued early release would give Veeken the incentive to complete the program.
Other than immediate family members, Veeken will also be prohibited from being in the company of a person under 16 outside supervision of another adult for two years under a prohibition order issued as part of his sentence. Veeken's risk to reoffend is rated as moderate and his actions were described as a "grooming type of conduct in a position of trust."
The jury found Veeken guilty of the charge in February.
