Lawyers recommend 4-5 years in prison for man who sexually abused teen

Lawyers are recommending a prison sentence of four to five yearsfor a man who sexually abuseda teenage girl.

Joseph Gordon MacRoberts, 42, has admitted he had sexual encounters with the girl starting when she was a young teen and continuing over a number of years.

It ended when she disclosed it to an adult.

I was a child who trusted him.- Victim Impact Statement

Hepleaded guilty in October to sexual interference and sexual exploitation.

In P.E.I. Supreme Court during a sentencing hearingThursday, court heardMacRobertshad sexual intercourse with the girl and had her perform oral sex on him.

According to facts presented by the Crown,MacRobertsalso supplied her with marijuana and cigarettes.

Girl still struggling

The girl stood and read her victim impact statementaloud to a packed courtroom. Shesaid the abuse had a huge impact on her mental health thatshe's been diagnosed with PTSD and still struggles to get out of bed in the morning.

"I feel like I am trapped in my own life, my own consciousness," she wrote, later adding,"I don't see any hope or shimmer of light to get through this."

She wroteshe doesn't believe MacRoberts is sorry.

"I honestly feel like he doesn't get it that I was a child who trusted him."

Judge considerssentence

Crown attorney Valerie Moore recommended a five year prison sentence. She told the court she would have asked for a longer term if he hadn't pleaded guilty.

In a pre-sentence report MacRoberts saidthe victim initiated some of the sexual encounters. Moore told the court that sounded like he was blaming the victim.

MacRoberts' lawyer Peter Ghiz recommended a prison term of four years.

He said his client has shown remorse.

MacRoberts apologized in court Thursday for what happening, saying "I'm really really sorry that those lines got crossed."

Justice Terri MacPherson said she needed some time to consider the arguments and adjourned sentencing of MacRoberts until March 2.

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