Ex-Esgenoôpetitj chief sentenced to 9 years for sex assault

The former chief of the Esgenoôpetitj First Nation, convicted of sexually assaulting three girls between 1977 and 1985, has been sentenced to nine years in prison.

Wilbur Dedam, 64, frowned when the sentence was imposed in Miramichi Court of Queen's Bench on Monday afternoon and looked toward where the victims were sitting.

Justice Tracey DeWare said Dedam had abused his position of power as chief "in the most egregious manner possible."

Mr. Dedam welcomed these children into his home, where he used them for his own sexual gratification, pure and simple.- Tracey DeWare, Court of Queen's Bench justice

Some women in the front row were crying and trembling as the judge spoke.

DeWare said children in the community should have felt safe and protected with a man in Dedam's position.

"Mr. Dedam welcomed these children into his home, where he used them for his own sexual gratification, pure and simple," she said. "In doing so, he undermined their sense of wellbeing, safety, and trust in those adults designated to care for them."

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"These are very serious crimes and the sentence must reflect Canadian society's commitment to protect children  from sexual abuse."

Outside the courthouse, one of the victims told reporters: "We are very, very, very happy."

Another victim chimed in: "Happy to close this chapter in our lives."

The Crown had requested a sentence of between eight and 10 years. The defence had asked the court to consider a sentence of three or four years.

Dedam 'surprised'

Defence lawyer T.J. Burke said Dedam was "surprised" by the sentence.

"He was not expecting such a significant amount of time," but he respects the court's decision, Burke said. "At this point in time, those are his remarks."

Sexual assaults are "considered some of the most heinous crimes that we have in the country and they're difficult for everybody," said Burke.

"​They're difficult for victims because they have to relive the experience, they're difficult for the Crown, they're difficult for the defence and, you know, when a client has been convicted, it's very difficult for the client to accept that offences he was convicted of, that occurred back in the '80s when there was no mandatory minimum sentence, reflects what society's abhorrence is for these types of offences today."

Asked whether he plans to appeal either the conviction or sentence, Burke replied: "We're going to look at everything."

But ultimately, it will be Dedam's decision how to proceed, he added.

Dedam was found guilty in September of six charges:

• Sexual intercourse with a female under 14 
• Sexual intercourse with a female under 16 
• Sexual intercourse without consent 
• Two counts of sexual assault on a female person
• Illicit sexual intercourse 

He was sentenced on five charges Monday as the Crown agreed to a stay on count four due to overlap with another count.

Takes heritage into account

DeWare pronounced the sentence of the court to be 13½ years — three concurrent eight-year sentences for his first victim, a consecutive five-year sentence for the second victim, and a consecutive six-month sentence for the third victim.

The judge then took into account Dedham's Aboriginal heritage, upbringing and health issues and pronounced a "global sentence" of nine years.

Deware stated the global sentence "adequately addresses the circumstances specific to Mr. Dedam and the goals of deterrence and denunciation."

The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that sentencing judges have a statutory duty to.consider the unique circumstances of Aboriginal.offenders and may impose a sentence that is less than what would be imposed on a non-Aboriginal offender.

Dedam has been in custody since his conviction.

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