Editor’s note: This story contains details about the sexual assault of a minor, which could be upsetting for some readers.
Editor’s note: This story contains details about the sexual assault of a minor, which could be upsetting for some readers.
Terrence Grant shared a lengthy, emotional embrace with two women in a Sarnia courtroom Monday afternoon before being led away to start serving his one-year jail sentence.
The emotional toll on the young person he sexually assaulted was conveyed to the courtroom just as clearly, but through words instead of hugs.
“It’s been absolutely devastating,” her mother wrote in a victim-impact statement read by the Crown.
The youth, whose identity is covered by a publication ban, has struggled with anxiety and a lack of motivation to carry out daily tasks in the wake of the incident. Counseling has helped, but her mother fears it’s just the start of a lifelong journey.
Grant was charged on March 5, 2020, with two counts of sexual assault of a person younger than 16, three counts of sexual assault, three counts of sexual interference and a single count of sexual exploitation. The 52-year-old carpenter pleaded guilty earlier this year to just a single charge of sexual assault of a person younger than 16 while the rest of the charges were dropped.
“Even though this is one incident and one episode, the harm is significant and life-altering for a young child,” Justice Deborah Austin said Monday.
The incident took place in January 2020. Grant initially denied the allegation when confronted by the mother, but evidence seized by officers and sent to Ontario’s Center of Forensic Sciences found “Grant could not be excluded as the contributor to semen that was found,” the court has heard.
Despite Grant’s guilty plea, sentencing was initially adjourned for a pre-sentence report and then again due to serious medical issues he was dealing with. With the sentencing hearing finally given the green light Monday, both lawyers suggested one year in jail followed by three years of probation.
The punishment for a summary conviction under this section of the Criminal Code, which is what Grant received, is between six months and just shy of two years when the survivor is younger than 16.
Austin said she’ll respect the lawyers’ joint submission, but first gave Grant a chance to address the court.
“No thank you, your honour,” he responded while wearing dark pants and a red dress shirt below his mustache and balding gray hair.
“He is remorseful and he is embarrassed,” said defense lawyer David Stoesser, adding his client’s wife is dismayed but supportive.
Grant, who had a prior but unrelated criminal record, can’t contact the youth or several other people while in jail or on probation. He’ll also be on the Sex Offender Information Registration Act list and banned from weapons for the next 10 years.
For 20 years, he can’t go to parks, swimming areas, daycares or community centers where people younger than 16 could be unless he’s with someone older than 25. He also can’t volunteer or be in a position of trust or authority with anyone younger than 16 or contact people in that age group in any way unless under supervision.
Multiple other charges were previously dropped and two other charges were withdrawn Monday. The court had heard four other complainants came forward with historical allegations against Grant in the wake of the initial complaint, but the Crown previously said it wasn’t pursuing those charges.