Crown seeks jail time, defence wants conditional sentence for B.C. RCMP officer convicted of sex offences involving minors
A B.C. RCMP officer convicted of sex offences involving minors will learn his fate on November 3, when a Supreme Court justice is scheduled to hand down a sentence for Andrew James Seangio.
The Crown is seeking a jail term of 18 to 24 months and two years’ probation for Seangio. The defence is asking for a conditional sentence to be served in the community.
In July, Seangio was found guilty by a jury on charges related to public masturbation and indecent exposure, in connection with incidents that took place between August 2018 and March 2019.
The court heard Seangio, a constable with the Richmond RCMP, drove up to students from two Vancouver private schools – York House School and Little Flower Academy – then exposed his genitals, touched himself and left the scene. The victims were teenage girls, with the youngest being just 14 at the time.
At a sentencing hearing on Monday at Vancouver Supreme Court, prosecutor Geoff Baragar told the court Seangio’s position as a police officer should be considered an aggravating factor.
“He was at the time serving as a member of Canada’s national police force,” Baragar said. “It is very much a breach of the trust which citizens would expect from a person holding that position.”
Baragar said other aggravating factors in the Crown’s submission include that the offences were “planned and deliberate,” as well as the vulnerability of the complainants.
“Each of them was walking home from school in daylight,” he said. “The evidence reveals Seangio specifically targeted school girls.”
Defence lawyer Glen Orris disagreed with the Crown argument relating to Seangio’s job being an aggravating factor.
“In my submission, that’s not the law and not the case. Mr. Seangio did not use his position as a police officer to effect the offences,” Orris said. “The fact that the victims were upset because they found out afterwards he was a police officer has nothing to do with Mr. Seangio.”
Orris also read a letter submitted by Seangio, in which he apologized for “what I’ve put everyone through”.
“The whole process has been significantly stressful for all those involved, but it was most stressful for the victims as well as their families,” Seangio said in the letter. “I’m very sorry for what they have gone through and hope that this trial brings them some sort of closure.”
Orris added Seangio is now married with a five-month-old baby, and has the support of his family.
During the trial, a Vancouver police detective testified authorities held safety presentations at both schools after receiving reports of the incidents, and also set up a tip line. The detective said several additional victims came forward, including one who had taken note of the suspect vehicle’s make and model, and the licence plate number.
Seangio was also accused of exposing himself to two undercover police officers who were walking through the Shaughnessy area in girls’ school uniforms as part of the investigation.
Seangio is currently suspended without pay from the RCMP, and an internal code of conduct process is still underway.
He also faces 37 charges in Ottawa related to sexual assault and voyeurism. Those allegations pre-date the charges in Vancouver.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
PWHL Minnesota defeats Boston to win inaugural Walter Cup
Minnesota won the inaugural championship of the Professional Women’s Hockey League on Wednesday night, getting 17 saves from Nicole Hensley to beat Boston 3-0 in a winner-take-all Game 5 and claim the Walter Cup.
Canadians are eyeing moves to these cities for more affordable housing
Faced with elevated housing prices, half of Canadians in the country's largest cities are considering moving to places with more affordable housing.
B.C. mortgage broker ran $270-million Ponzi scheme, then fled Canada, bankruptcy trustee says
The trustee appointed to manage the bankruptcies of a Victoria mortgage company and its owner has concluded that they committed "numerous offences" and operated as a "massive Ponzi scheme."
Oilers rally to beat Stars, tie Western Conference Final
With the Edmonton Oilers down two goals late in the first period of Game 4, Rogers Place was quiet, fans seemingly bewildered at the early, quick scoring of the Dallas Stars and the slow start by the home team. Ryan McLeod's marker with six-and-a-half minutes in the opening frame left changed all that.
McDonald's says $18 Big Mac meal was an 'exception' and their prices haven't risen that much
McDonald’s is fighting back against viral tweets and media reports that it says have exaggerated its price increases.
'Targeted again': Montreal police investigate after gunshot fired at Jewish school
Police are investigating another building in Montreal's community was struck by gunfire.
Tessa Virtue reveals she's expecting her first child. Here's what Canadians had to say
Canadian figure-skating icon Tessa Virtue is expecting her first child, she revealed via social media Tuesday.
Poilievre says Canadians 'fleeing' to Nicaragua, Liberals say it shows he 'doesn't have a clue'
Liberal parliamentarians are criticizing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre over a new video in which he promotes the idea that some Canadians are 'fleeing' Canada to live in Nicaragua because they can't afford a house in this country.
'Do not drive': Nissan warns Canadian drivers of explosion risk impacting 48,000 vehicles
Car manufacturer Nissan has issued a do-not-drive warning for some older vehicles equipped with Takata airbag inflators, due to the risk of explosion during a crash.