Chestnut sentenced to jail for sexually abusing children
TRURO, N.S. – For a period of 46 years, beginning in 1968, Arthur Chestnut preyed upon and sexually abused six children and young teenagers.
On Nov. 20, he was led out of a Truro courtroom by sheriff’s deputies to begin serving a 13.5-month jail sentence.
“I recognize that the victims in this case have suffered,” Judge Al Bégin told the court during sentencing. “Any sentence I impose will not absolve that suffering. Indeed, any sentence I impose will likely be seen as deficient in the eyes of the victims. I understand that but it is very difficult for a court to say what degree of punishment is likely in any particular case to be regarded as sufficient by the victims. “We do not impose punishment simply for the sake of retribution.”
Chestnut, 70, had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault and three counts of sexual interference between 1968 and 2014, all involving individuals under age 16.
The sexual abuse began in a church basement in Truro when Chestnut was a cub leader. His first victim was Dr. Kevin Sibley, who was nine, when Chestnut instructed the boy, after everyone else had left, to remove his pants and underwear. Chestnut then
placed the boy over his knee and began to spank him.
Although the names of the victims had originally been protected by a publication ban, the names of Sibley and Chestnut’s niece, Alexis Chestnut, 18, were lifted by the judge at their request through Crown attorney Thomas Kayter.
During a sentencing recommendation hearing the day
before, the court heard a heartwrenching and disturbing victim impact statement from Sibley who said the impact of his abuse had haunted him throughout his life.
Once a respected agricultural engineer, research scientist, professor and senior leader “across multiple industries and within government and academia,” Sibley’s life spiraled downward from the tormenting effects of his abuse until 2011 when he was hospitalized after being on the verge of suicide.
His hard-earned career ended at that point and Sibley said he has been on long-term disability ever since.
“I was a nine-year-old boy. It has affected my life,” he read from his statement.
“I have essentially lived a life of what I call ‘had to’, versus a life of ‘want to’ in order to survive all these years.”
Sibley said he developed a fear of people who had authority over him and that he had been haunted by sightings of Chestnut over the years but he never had the courage to actually face him until after he began counselling.
In 2018 he summed up the courage to speak to the Truro Police, which ultimately led to Chestnut’s arrest.
Later criticized about not coming forward sooner, Sibley said he did inform an authority figure nearly 50 years ago while still a cub. All that happened was Chestnut was relieved as a cub leader and Sibley was told never to speak of it again.
“It is safe to say that Mr. Chestnut sexually abused children that he had developed a relationship with” Bégin said. “These were children who had learned to place their trust in Mr. Chestnut as a result of his relationship with each victim, either by being a cub leader, a babysitter or a relative.
“The victim impact statements revealed the true, long lasting and pervasive consequences of repeated criminal sexual assaults by Mr. Chestnut against the six known victims for his own deviant and abusive sexual gratification,” Bégin said.
While the victims may not consider the imposed sentence strong enough, he continued, a period of custody for such offences is only one consideration judges must make.
Bégin said he opted for the low end of the custodial sentence put forth in a joint recommendation by the Crown and defence attorneys because he wants Chestnut to be able to take advantage of a sexual offender program that begins each fall.
Following his release Chestnut must serve a three-year probation period. Additionally, he must take counselling for gambling and sexual deviance addictions, submit a DNA sample to the national bank and his name will be placed on the Sexual Offender Registry for life.
He is not permitted to be in a placewhere children may reasonably be present.
He must also make no contact with any of his victims and following his release he is not permitted to be inside the Truro library unless accompanied by another adult.