Crown seeks five years for serial abuser

REGINA A man described in court as a serial domestic abuser could be looking at his first federal prison term if the Crown has its way.

Scott Bradley Geiger, 35, has never served more than two years, despite the fact he is now to be sentenced for his 12th and 13th assaults. Crown prosecutor Leona Andrews argued on Wednesday it’s time for that to change — in a significant way.

Geiger was convicted after trial of common assault, assault causing bodily harm, uttering threats and distributing an intimate image — all in relation to the same girlfriend.

In asking Regina provincial court Judge James Rybchuk to consider imposing a sentence of five years less 15½ months remand credit, Andrews acknowledged it’s a far cry from the 14 months that was, to date, the longest period Geiger has served at one time.

But she claimed it’s warranted, and even necessary, given the man’s history, his lack of success with programming and evidence of his continued attitude toward women.

Geiger’s record stretches back to his teens, and has since come to include numerous assaults on several domestic partners — some of which occurred while he was on conditions not to contact them.

In the worst of his offences, Geiger broke a woman’s collarbone.

He was also once handed a jail term for assaulting two children.

Andrews dug through Geiger’s past, exploring previous offences and reports detailing his attitude and risk factors. Court heard Geiger has expressed a negative attitude toward his partners, once saying “I don’t like to be disrespected by my partner. I’m the master of my castle.”

In another instance, he was reported to have said, “My house. I wear the pants.”

Rather than identifying one girlfriend by name in his phone contacts, he is said to have labelled her as “my slut” or “my bitch.”

In the latest case, Geiger’s convictions include leaving his partner with multiple bruises after punching and slapping her, and sending a third party a video of the couple in the midst of a sex act.

Andrews said Geiger is considered a high risk to reoffend, despite

having successfully completed domestic-violence programming numerous times.

“Seven times he has gone through the programming, and seven times he has reoffended …,” she said, arguing enough is enough. “Mr. Geiger has a problem with women.”

Defence lawyer Tyne Hagey said Geiger has a supportive family and is a hard worker. She said he accepts responsibility and is sorry for his actions.

Rybchuk reserved his decision to May 13.