A Prince George man was sentenced Monday to one year in jail for attempting to procure sex from an employee at Treasure Cove Casino.
Less credit for time served, Joseph Neil Johnny, 46, will serve a further 156 days in jail. He was also sentenced to three years probation following completion of the time in jail.
On the evening of Sept. 26, 2018, Johnny had been drinking and began chatting up a woman working at Treasure Cove while she was on break in the smoking area outside the bingo hall. As she politely answered his questions, Johnny began to move closer to her, making her feel uncomfortable.
Johnny then asked her "how much an hour?" When she replied "excuse me?," he repeated the question.
"I'm not a prostitute, I'm at work right now," she then told Johnny. She finished her cigarette, went inside and told security, who escorted him out of the building.
RCMP were subsequently contacted, and Johnny was taken into custody where he has remained ever since.
Crown counsel had argued for 18 months in jail while defence counsel asked for time served. Crown's suggestion of three years probation was uncontested.
Johnny has had an long history of sexual offending and at one point he was on a 10-year long-term supervision order which he had breached it 15 times for inappropriate behaviour.
He had also failed to complete treatment programs on four occasions and at the time of his arrest, he was serving two years probation for bombarding a woman with sexually-suggestive phone calls and voice messages.
Johnny has been diagnosed with mental health issues that require medication, as well as developmental challenges. He also tends to commit his offences when he stops taking his medication and is consuming alcohol.
Malfair found further time in jail was appropriate in the name of public protection. And his terms of probation include a curfew, remaining at an approved residence and participating in a treatment program as directed. Johnny's lawyer, Keith Jones, had suggested his client is in need of one-on-one counseling rather than group therapy.
Johnny has also been ordered to stay away from the casino.
