The 18-year-old, who is not being identified due to a court imposed publication ban, was convicted by Justice Robert Stack of sexual interference in court in Corner Brook last week.
The young man’s victim was a 13-year-old girl. He had been charged with one count each of sexual interference and sexual assault. The sexual assault charge was stayed upon his conviction and he was also found guilty of three breaches of a recognizance.
The incident occurred in the summer of 2015.
The girl was in Grade 7 when she met the accused during a lunch break from school. The girl and friend had gone “off-grounds” and met the accused. The two became friends on Facebook and would communicate by Facebook Messenger.
In one message he asked the girl her age. She said 16 and he responded with: No way. That’s crazy.”
The assault occurred after a night of drinking. Both the victim and accused had been at a shed with other people. The girl drank five of six beers within an hour. The accused left at 9 p.m. because he was on probation and had a curfew.
The girl was later dropped off at his house. She had previously asked him if she could crash there.
The two went into the basement of the home and had sex. The girl’s mother reported the incident to police.
The young man testified during his trial in May that he learned a day or so after the incident that the girl was 13.
But it was noted that he told police the girl was younger and suggested when he first met her he thought she might be 14 or 15.
In his written decision, Stack said he found the young man’s testimony contradictory, evasive or self-serving.
The young man will be back in court on Oct. 16 for a sentencing hearing.
