A sentencing hearing date has been set in the case of a Southside man convicted of “touching for a sexual purpose” a person under the age of 16.
The accused is more than 25 years older than the complainant.
Although the Southside man was charged with four counts, each involving his alleged interactions with the complainant, he was only convicted of two - touching for a sexual purpose a person under the age of 16 and communicating with the complainant for the “purpose of facilitating his touching for a sexual purpose.”
Although he also also found guilty of sexually assaulting the complainant, this count was stayed by the court based on the “Kienapple principle,” which prevents an accused person from being convicted of multiple offenses arising out of the same incident. He was found not guilty of criminally harassing the complainant.
fThe sentencing hearing will be held in Smithers in June 2017.