Judge imposes 30 months for rape

A 36-year-old Yorkton man has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for a sexual assault involving a 15-year-old girl.

Lynsie Quewezance pleaded guilty March 28 to one count of sexual assault. In a joint submission the Crown laid out the circumstances that during the summer of 2015 while giving the girl a ride home from a place of business where they both worked, Quewezance forced himself on her.

Prosecutor Todd Wellsch cited the fact Quewezance was the girl’s supervisor as an aggravating factor, but gave him credit for an early guilty plea that saved the victim from having to testify in recommending the 30 month sentence.

Mark Persick for the defence said his client thought the girl was older, but accepted responsibility for not having made proper age inquiries.

He asked the judge to endorse the warrant of committal to custody with a recommendation Quewezance could spend a portion of his sentence at the Willow Cree Healing Centre at Duck Lake where traditional healing programs and elder services for sex offenders and substance abusers are available.

The defendant himself offered an apology for his actions in open court.

Given the early plea and a lack of related criminal record, Judge Ross Green said he was satisfied the joint submission was a fit sentence. In addition to the 30 months sentence with the Willow Cree endorsement, the judge imposed the mandatory DNA order, 10-year firearms prohibition and 20-year sex offender registration.