Sarnia man gets 2.5 years in prison for repeatedly touching three children

The voices of all three of Rodney Lawrence’s sexual-interference victims were heard this week in a Sarnia courtroom.

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“His actions had a rippling impact on the rest of my youth and well into adulthood and my current life,” one said.

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“Rodney took my most fundamental sense of safety away with his actions and he taught me how to be mistrustful of everyone’s actions,” another said.

“I feel happy that I was believed. I’m glad there are going to be consequences,” the youngest of the trio said in a letter read by the prosecutor.

The consequences for Lawrence, who pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual interference, include a 2 1/2 year prison term, various restrictions and court orders.

Sexual offenses against children are profoundly wrong, Justice Krista Lynn Leszczynski said in passing sentence.

“I also have the evidence of the profound damaging impact that these offenses have had,” she said, referring to the victims’ impact statements.

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Assistant Crown attorney Nicole Godfrey also used the word profound to describe the impact of Lawrence’s actions on the three survivors, whose identities are protected by publication bans.

“And I think that’s putting it lightly,” she said. “The devastation caused by these offenses is far-reaching and long-lasting.”

Details of the offenses were heard in court, but little can be reported due to the publication bans. The incidents took place repeatedly over several years, but didn’t come to light until one survivor’s grandmother called Sarnia police in February 2022.

The grandmother also read from her victim-impact statement, saying she cries every day about what happened and constantly feels on edge.

“I have times where I can’t breathe,” she said.

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After a series of police interviews in early 2022, Det. Const. Brian Halfpenny called Lawrence, who had no prior criminal record, to come to headquarters, where he was arrested and charged. Lawrence gave a statement to police, in which he provided details and took responsibility for what happened, Godfrey told the judge.

But there were significant issues with the statement and it wouldn’t have been admissible as evidence had the case gone to trial, she added. Both lawyers agreed he should get credit for taking responsibility and pleading guilty.

Defense lawyer Sarah Donohue said her client has undergone counseling and psychotherapy and shown a commitment to understand and address his deviant behavior.

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“He takes responsibility for his behaviors. “He feels remorseful,” she said.

Given a chance to address the court, Lawrence apologized for his actions.

“I was the adult. I should’ve known better. I feel ashamed and remorseful of my actions,” he said. “I wish I could undo the damage I’ve done.”

Lawrence can’t contact any of the three survivors while he’s in prison and can’t be within two kilometers of them after his release. He’ll be on the Sex Offender Information Registration Act list for 10 years.

He’ll be banned for life from places where people under 16 may be, such as public parks, swimming pools, daycares, schools or community centers, and from working or volunteering with people that age. He can’t contact a person under 16 unless supervised by a person aware of his beliefs.

Other charges police previously laid were dropped.

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@ObserverTerry

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