Vernon man, 26, guilty of sexually exploiting teenager – Vernon News

A 26-year-old man who had sex with a teenage girl was found guilty of sexual exploitation but was acquitted of three other charges he faced.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the victim’s identity, appeared in Vernon court on Monday to hear Judge Richard Hewson’s decision on the charges relating to a 15/16-year-old girl.

In this story, the man is referred to as QB and his victim as HL, which are not their real initials.

The couple met in the summer of 2021 while working at a fast food restaurant. QB was the victim’s manager.

That fall, they became friends and began talking more frequently via text messages, FaceTime and various social media platforms. The friendship was kept secret from family, friends and colleagues.

Sometime in the winter of 2021/22, the two began sexual contact with each other. HL told her mother about the relationship in February 2022 and her mother arranged a meeting with the employer. Shortly before the meeting, HL told her mother about the sexual relationship and the police were called.

HL testified that she did not want to have a sexual relationship with QB and felt trapped, while QB testified that the relationship was consensual.

“I appreciate that consent is not a defense if HL was under 16 at the time of the incident,” Judge Hewson said.

HL was 15 when the couple met. In December she turned 16, the legal age in Canada. Hewson also said that text messages from HL to QB show confessions of love that are inconsistent with someone feeling trapped in a relationship.

Hewson said the Crown had not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the sexual relationship began before HL was 16 or that HL did not consent to the sexual contact.

QB was charged with sexual assault, solicitation of sexual touching under the age of 16, and sexual harassment of someone under the age of 16, but was found not guilty.

Hewson found QB guilty of sexual exploitation because “the Crown has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that QB was in a position of authority over HL when he initiated sexual contact with her despite being fully aware of her age.”

In cases where there is a relationship of trust, authority or dependency, the age of consent in Canada is 18.

The QB’s sentencing is scheduled for May 13.