A former Global BC news reporter sentenced to four years in prison for molesting a young boy for years is appealing his sentence.
Forty-five-year-old Ron Bencze pleaded to a single count of child sex assault in July, while eight other sex charges allegedly involving two separate minors were stayed.
In August, the judge went beyond the Crown’s recommended three-year sentence and gave Bencze to four years behind bars.
Bencze is also prohibited from parks, schools and other areas frequented by children for the next 20 years.
The judge said Bencze’s crime was a “major sexual offence” for which he must pay a “heavy price.”
The assault Bencze pleaded to began when the victim was as young as nine years old, and continued for several years with offences including masturbation, oral sex and illicit text messages.
Disturbing details were released during the sentencing including a psychiatric report that included statements made by Bencze in April and June. Bencze described himself as the submissive party in the “relationship” and the victim as the dominant.
The report said Bencze told the doctor “I wanted to please him,” when questioned about his motivation and that he “became more of a child” with the victim.
The judge pointed out Bencze acknowledged the relationship was a source of exhilaration for him and he enjoyed the danger, secrecy and “adventure.”
“The gratification he derived… predominated over every other consideration,” the judge said, adding that “he was quite simply a normal adult with a normal background who should have known better.”
