It will be over two years before a Fort St. John veterinarian learns his fate in his sexual assault case.
Justin Sewell plead guilty to sexual assault back in November of 2022. He will be sentenced on Friday in a Fort St. John courtroom.
Fort St. John RCMP announced the charges against the local Veterinarian, including sexual assault, overcoming resistance to commission of the offence and two counts of voyeurism in 2022.
Sewell’s sentencing began all the way back in July of 2023. The judge in the case kept allowing evidence to be submitted during the sentencing.
The Crown has asked for federal prison time for Sewell of 2 to 3 years on the low end and 4 to 5 years on the high end. The defence asked the court that there be no form of incarceration or penalty.
RCMP says the incident occurred in 2007 in Charlie Lake. Police began investigating the case after they were made aware of the allegations in 2019.
Sewell pled guilty to one count of sexual assault and two counts of voyeurism. According to court documents, he allegedly sexually assaulted the victim and secretly observed/ recorded nudity or sexual activity in a private place.
The judge in the case imposed two publication bans to prevent the victim and witnesses from being identified.