Cardigan man jailed for sex offence

James Bernard Mooney sentenced to 4.5 months in jail, plus two-year probation

A Cardigan man who said he had been drinking before committing a sex offence was sentenced Thursday to more than four months in jail.

James Bernard Mooney, 50, appeared before Chief Judge Nancy Orr in provincial court in Georgetown for sentencing after previously entering a guilty plea.

In sentencing Mooney to 4.5 months in jail, Orr said the offence was on the lower end of the scale, but no sexual touching is acceptable in this case.

During Thursday’s proceedings, Crown attorney Nathan Beck told the court the victim said she felt responsible for what was going to happen to Mooney.

That was something Beck said he and someone from victim services tried to stress with her was not the case.

“She was not responsible any of this,” Beck said.

Orr said the victim did the right thing by reporting what had happened, and it was unfortunate she felt any responsibility in the matter.

Defence lawyer Brendan Hubley said Mooney was extremely remorseful and ashamed of his actions.

Hubley said Mooney has stopped drinking and has been attending group counselling.

Mooney will be on probation for two years.

He must also provide a DNA sample for the national databank, and his name will be on the national sex offender registry for 10 years.

A publication ban prevents the release of any details that could identify the victim.