Canadian court reduces sentence of man who assaulted and terrorized a girl, citing his indigenous background

Image: Jihad Watch

A Calgary judge reduced the sentence of an Indigenous man convicted of repeatedly terrorizing and sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl, citing his Indigenous background as a mitigating factor. The man, identified in court records only as RJM, originally faced a 10-year prison term but was instead handed an eight-year sentence under the Gladue principles, which require Canadian judges to account for the historical and systemic disadvantages faced by Indigenous offenders.

RJM, who is of Cree descent through his mother, first encountered the victim, identified as AB, on Instagram. Despite being 25 years old at the time, he initiated contact with the child and over several months—between spring and fall of 2023—he subjected her to repeated sexual assaults, threats of violence, and psychological terror. Court documents describe how RJM not only exploited the significant age difference but also inflicted both physical harm and emotional intimidation to ensure the girl’s compliance. Justice Jayme Williams, in her written ruling, emphasized that RJM’s control over the victim was sustained through fear and abuse.

The assaults were not the only crimes committed. In addition to sexual violence and threats to kill AB, RJM later threatened both her and her mother from custody, attempting to pressure the child into retracting her statement to police. Before his arrest in September 2023, he also led officers on a dangerous chase, further compounding the charges against him.

RJM’s defense lawyer argued for a six-year sentence, stressing both his guilty plea and his Indigenous heritage. The defense invoked the Gladue decision—a 1999 Supreme Court of Canada ruling that directs judges to weigh the broader context of systemic racism, intergenerational trauma, and the legacy of colonial policies such as residential schools when sentencing Indigenous offenders. Justice Williams acknowledged these factors, noting that RJM’s life had been shaped by many of the hardships recognized under Gladue, which ultimately influenced her decision to reduce the term of imprisonment.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)