On Friday, the Regina Court of King’s Bench found Bernard (Bernie) Lynch guilty on one count of sexual assault and one count of assault.
Lynch was charged with sexual assault of a 17-year-old boy in August of 1988 and pleaded not guilty in September.
The victim, whose name remains under publication ban, claimed in court that he was struck in the testicles by Lynch with a ring of keys, following a day of hockey camp in which the victim was helping teach.
The victim said that Lynch, who was an assistant coach for the Regina Pats at the time, invited him to stay at his apartment in Regina while he was in the city to assist with their hockey camp.
The victim told the court that Lynch gave him alcohol, which he was reluctant to take, after which he attempted to have a shower and sober himself up.
The victim testified that Lynch then intruded and began touching him without his consent.
Ahead of issuing his verdict, Justice Peter T. Bergusch told the court he found Lynch to have inconsistencies in his evidence, whereas the victim did not.
“In observing Mr. Lynch testify, I found him to be evasive and combative at times. For the forgoing reasons, I do not find Mr. Lynch to be a credible or a reliable witness, especially given the inconsistencies in his evidence and I do not believe his testimony,” Bergusch said.
DefenCe Attorney Andrew Hitchcock said they have a series of mitigating factors to bring to sentencing, but did not offer specifics.
“He’s upset. This isn’t the outcome he wanted, as I’m sure all of you can appreciate. He’s concerned about his future. He had a lot of questions about his future.”
Lynch was granted bail despite attempts by the prosecution to have it cancelled. He has not yet been sentenced.
Crown Prosecutor Chris White said that they will likely seek a prison term of more than two years.
“We’d like to see a just sentence that recognizes the harm done and society’s abhorrence for these kinds of offenses, so that is a significant period of incarceration,” White told the media outside the courthouse, White told the media outside of the courthouse.
The former junior hockey coach was arrested in May of 2021, after he turned himself in authorities to Alberta. He was transported to Regina, where tje police service had a warrant out for his arrest.
Lynch spent at least 15 years coaching various teams in Saskatchewan, including minor hockey teams in the 1990s.
Sentencing arguments will begin on Jan. 5, 2024.
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