MAN JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT OF TEEN

Judge sentences Brandon Allan Poulton to one year for sexually assaulting 14-year-old girl

Judge sentences Brandon Allan Poulton to one year in jail.

A P.E.I. man was sentenced Tuesday to one year in jail for sexually assaulting a 14-yearold girl.

Brandon Allan Poulton, 22, appeared before Judge John Douglas in provincial court in Charlottetown for sentencing after he was found guilty in May.

Crown attorney Jeff MacDonald told the court the victim impact statement shows the serious emotional effect the sexual assault had on the girl.

“It’s clear the incident has stayed with her,” he said.

The victim was at Poulton’s apartment in April 2015 after drinking and smoking marijuana.

She testified that while there, Poulton woke her up on the couch and forced himself on her.

The victim said Poulton told her not to tell anyone.

His girlfriend was asleep in a nearby bedroom at the time.

Poulton testified the victim forced him to have sex by threatening to tell people they did unless he went along with it.

Douglas didn’t believe his testimony.

Poulton faced a mandatory minimum of one year in jail, but MacDonald suggested 15 to 18 months would have been an appropriate sentence.

Defence lawyer Thane MacEachern said the minimum would be appropriate in this case, along with a period of probation.

Douglas said he was satisfied the one-year minimum was appropriate.

Before hearing his sentence, Poulton said he was sorry for everything.

“I can’t even find the words right now,” he said.

Once his sentence was set, Poulton cried as a group of people who accompanied him to court left the room before sheriffs took him to a holding cell. “Love you guys,” he said. With his conviction, Poulton will have to provide a DNA sample for the national databank and will have his name added to the sex offender registry.

Douglas also ordered a weapon prohibition for 10 years.

Poulton will be on probation for one year and must pay a $200 victim surcharge.