‘Abomination’ of sexual abuse lands stepfather in prison

Teen girl repeatedly impregnated by man who was her legal guardian

An Edmonton man was put behind bars Friday for repeatedly sexually abusing and impregnating a vulnerable teenage girl he took in as his stepdaughter after her father died.

The 57-year-old, who can only be named K.B. under a courtordered publication ban protecting the identity of the victim, was handed an 8 1/2-year sentence after earlier pleading guilty to sexual assault causing bodily harm and two counts of sexual exploitation.

“You turned an act of kindness into a continuing abomination,” Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Sterling Sanderman said. “You committed a number of odious and degrading acts on a person placed in your care when her father died and her mother was in Africa and she became an orphan.

“On one hand you were holding yourself out as a Christian … and at the same time, you were putting a young girl through years of abuse.”

The judge ruled it was aggravating K.B. was in a position of trust over the victim, who was between 15 and 21 at the time of the offences. She suffered psychological harm as a result. He ruled it was especially aggravating the victim became pregnant five times and was forced to have abortions.

According to an agreed statement of facts, the victim came to Canada with her father and brother in 1999, but after their father died in 2001, K.B. became the children’s legal guardian.

Court heard he sexually abused the girl between 2006 and 2013, forcing her into sex acts at both their home and at his business, and gave her money and rides to the movies as an inducement.

Court also heard the victim and her brother went to police after fleeing the home in 2013. K.B. was arrested in 2014. In a victim impact statement, the now-22-year-old wrote she was in “distress and fear” while living with K.B. and said she was deprived of a childhood and rushed into adulthood by a man “who was supposed to be a father figure to me.”

The young woman said she has suffered depression and sleepless nights, and continues to feel guilty over the abortions.

“I am broken, hurt and scarred for life.”

Prosecutor Carole Godfrey said K.B. was supposed to be the victim’s caregiver and provide her with spiritual guidance and mentorship, but instead broke the “sacred” father-daughter relationship.

Defence lawyer Ashok Gill called it a “difficult and tragic case” and said his client is “incredibly remorseful” for what he did.

Prior sentencing, K.B. apologized to the victim, as well as his wife and everyone else who was involved.

“I’m very, very sorry,” said K.B., adding he hopes he has a second chance to prove himself once he is released from prison.