A sentencing hearing for a Richmond, B.C., RCMP officer convicted of sex crimes began in Vancouver on Monday.
A jury found Andrew Seangio guilty in July of of seven counts of committing an indecent act in public and three counts of exposing his genitals to people under the age of 16.
Crown prosecutors are seeking a sentence of 24 months behind bars, followed by two years of probation and registration as a sex offender.
Defence argued that submission was “grossly excessive,” and has asked for a conditional sentence that would result in no time behind bars.
The incidents happened near York House School, a private K-12 all-girls school on Vancouver’s west side in between 2018 and February 2019.
At trial, the court heard that Seangio exposed himself to four girls, one just 14 years old, as well as undercover officers posing as private school students.
Crown prosecutors told the court he would drive his black SUV past York House and another private school, Little Flower Academy, circling the block until he spotted an isolated victim.
He would then roll down his window, expose himself and drive away, the court heard.
Cellphone records showing Seangio was in the area of the schools at the time of the incidents, and surveillance footage showing his vehicle circling the block, were entered as evidence in the trial.
The student victims submitted victim impact statements, which were not read out in court. However, Crown prosecutors said the girls felt less safe walking alone, and were dismayed to learn the accused was a police officer.
Defence read a letter written by Seangio to the court.
“I write this letter to express my sincerest apologies and what I have put everyone through,” the letter stated, adding Seangio understood what the victims were going through.
“At an early age I was bullied and ridiculed,” the letter stated.
To his fellow officers he wrote he understood how difficult it was to testify against one of their own. “As a police officer I know we function stronger as a team.”
Seangio also faces a slew of charges in Ottawa for voyeurism and sexual assault.
Richmond RCMP previously confirmed Seangio is a member of the detachment and was off duty at the time of the offences.
The B.C. RCMP said Seangio remains an RCMP officer, but is suspended without pay and allowance, and that his duty status “is subject to continual review and assessment.”
An RCMP code of conduct process in his case is still underway.
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