Man convicted of sexual exploitation

Used first 12-year-old victim to recruit another, judge noted

An Edmonton man who sexually exploited two preteen girls was sentenced to five years in prison Monday.

Amit Ramchandani, 32, sat stoically in the prisoner’s box near a gallery full of supporters as Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Doreen Sulyma told him his repeated crimes degraded and hurt the two young girls.

“The accused was not satisfied with only one victim and used victim No. 1 to recruit victim No. 2,” the judge told court. “He victimized not one 12-year-old, but two 12-yearolds. The age difference here is immense.”

Court previously heard Ramchandani started a sexual relationship with his first victim in 2009, when she was 12 and he was 26. They met over social media and he convinced her to meet in person. Between September 2009 and April 2011, Ramchandani met the girl for sex nine or 10 times, court heard.

“It was not to go for dinner or to the movies or for a walk in the park,” Crown prosecutor Craig Krieger said. “He was picking her up to use a child for sexual pleasure.”

He twice filmed the sex using a smartphone, Krieger said. The girl was aware she was being filmed. That video was child pornography.

In the video, Krieger said, Ramchandani asks the girl’s age during sex. When she says 13, he asks when they first had sex and appears to take pleasure in her saying she was 12.

At their last meeting, the first victim brought along her friend, at Ramchandani’s request. He had sex with each girl while the other waited in a different room.

“He reinforced to these girls that their value comes from sexually satisfying a man,” Krieger said.

Ramchandani’s psychology degree ensured he would be aware that sexually exploiting a child can cause long-term emotional damage, the prosecutor said.

At the sentencing hearing, defence lawyer Brian Beresh said Ramchandani has sought counselling and has the support of his family and community.

In a pre-sentence report, Beresh pointed out, Ramchandani’s crimes were attributed to his feelings of low self-esteem because he considers himself short and began losing his hair at a young age.

“He didn’t feel comfortable interacting with people his own age,” Beresh said.

Ramchandani was convicted of two counts of sexual interference and one count of making child pornography. rcormier@ edmontonjournal.com twitter.com/el_ cormier