High-risk sex offender released
Jeffrey Goddard pleads guilty to sexual assault in cell, sentenced to time served
A high-risk sex offender who sexually assaulted a fellow inmate at Surrey Pretrial Services Centre has been sentenced to time served and released from custody.
Jeffrey Alan Goddard, 25, pleaded guilty in June to one count of sexual assault and was sentenced on Thursday in provincial court in Surrey.
The incident took place on Oct. 4, 2014, when Goddard was in pretrial custody on breach and fraud-related charges.
One day earlier a 19-year-old man, who can only be identified as T.D. due to a publication ban, was transferred to Goddard’s unit at Surrey Pretrial. The men had never met before but quickly became friends. Goddard said he would get T.D. a job and that his mother would give T.D. a calling card.
T.D. invited Goddard to share his cell. The night of the assault, the two were in their bunks chatting when the subject of sex came up. T.D. made some comments in jest, but Goddard took him seriously. When T.D. tried to back out, Goddard used threats to convince T.D. to touch his penis and masturbate him.
T.D. — who was described as having mild mental retardation, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as well as being easily coerced — said he complied because he was afraid Goddard would follow through on his threats.
T.D. reported the assault the next day.
“What’s particularly concerning in this case is Mr. Goddard’s criminal record,” Judge Andrea Brownstone said in her reasons for sentence.
Goddard pleaded guilty in December 2010 to invitation to sexual touching, luring a child under 16 using a computer, impersonating a police officer and two breaches of his bail conditions. He was sentenced in June 2011 to 20 months less a day in jail and three years of probation.
In November 2012, he admitted to breaching his probation conditions. Goddard was sentenced on Jan. 24, 2013 to six months in jail but, after being given credit for time served, he was ordered to spend a further 12 days in custody.
In October 2014, Goddard pleaded guilty to breaching his probation twice and fraud under $5,000.
He was sentenced to one day in jail plus three years of probation for the breaches and 30 days in jail for the fraud.
Past pre-sentence reports have indicated Goddard is a high risk to reoffend, has a history of lying and is manipulative. He targets preteen and teenage boys and grooms them by offering inducements.
Brownstone said that deterrence is “somewhat challenging” in Goddard’s case because jail terms have not stopped him from offending in the past.
However, Goddard’s offence was serious and requires a jail term, Brownstone said.
Goddard was sentenced to time served and credited with nine months of pretrial custody.
He will also be on probation for three years with a long list of strict conditions aimed at protecting the community and working toward his rehabilitation.