Watch above: A former teacher was handed a 16-month jail term for luring a former student for sex. Meaghan Craig says the judge in the case sent a tough message to people in positions of trust.
SASKATOON – Former Saskatoon teacher Jayson Kennard will spend the next 16 months in jail. On Friday, a Court of Queen’s Bench judge handed down the sentence and said in his opinion it’s highly unlikely Kennard will re-offend.
“I think the Court took the opportunity to send a strong message of deterrence to anyone who is in a position of trust in relation to children that this type of behavior is not going to be tolerated.” said Crown Prosecutor Michael Segu.
The Crown had been seeking an 18-month jail term while the defence was looking for 12 months.
READ MORE: Former Saskatchewan teacher awaits fate for child luring
“My client’s certainly pleased with the sentence it’s right in the middle of what I was asking for, what the Crown prosecutor was asking for,” said Brad Mitchell, Kennard’s lawyer.
“I think it takes into factor the mitigating, aggravating circumstances and it’s an appropriate sentence in the circumstances.”
Kennard was charged in September 2013 after he was accused of sending explicit messages to a 16-year old former student, propositioning the teen for sex over the internet more than once.
He had taught the boy when he was in Grade 6 at Dundonald School. Kennard then proceeded to contact him through a private Facebook message when he was in Grade 9.
The messages were reported to police after the victim’s mother discovered them.
Kennard then initiated further sexual conversations unknowingly with a Saskatoon police investigator who was posing as the victim.
During sentencing submissions, the mother of the teen wrote in a victim impact statement that her teenage son suffers from severe depression, anxiety and has attempted to commit suicide several times as a result of Kennard’s actions.
Kennard, who has no criminal record, described the last 21 months as “hell” and that he never should have talked to the teen in the first place.
“The impacts been immense on him, he’s lost his job, he’s had family and friends and relationships tested as a result of this and you heard he considered taking his life and had some difficult days,” added Mitchell.
The judge took into account Kennard’s remorse and acknowledged that the accused has already sought counseling for a sex addiction.
He did however find that Kennard was still in a position of trust and authority in relation to the teen even though at the time he was a former student.
“I think the Court’s comments made it clear that a position of trust doesn’t necessarily end the moment the student walks out of the classroom, there is an on-going relationship with a student and teacher and student and former teacher and that was clear in this case,” said Segu.
The victim, who is now 18, cannot be named under a publication ban.
Kennard was also given 24 months probation.
David Giles contributed to this story
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