The family of a severely disabled man who was sexually abused for 17 years at a care facility in Hepburn welcomes changes to the sex-offender registry.
A Bill received royal assent Oct. 26 and means that judges must ask prosecutors if they sought the victim’s input before imposing a publication ban. Dangerous child sexual offenders and repeat sexual offenders will automatically be added to the registry. Offences of sharing intimate images and extortion will now be added to the registry.
“Anything that recognizes victims’ rights is a step in the right direction," Rick Boguski told SASKTODAY.ca “But most importantly, we applaud the government for putting more onus on the offender."
Rick Boguski had applied to the court last year to have the ban on publishing his brother Darryl Boguski’s name lifted and in June 2022, a Saskatoon judge lifted the ban.
Darryl Boguski was one of five victims of Gabona at Shepherd’s Villa. He required one-on-one 24-hour care for everything from bathing and getting dressed to eating. If this had been in place decades ago, Darryl Boguski, who is blind, has cerebral palsy, is autistic, and epileptic, may not have been one of Brent Gabona's victims.
“Brent Gabona kept his 1992 sexual assault conviction hidden until after he was caught,” said Rick Boguski. “If this were today he would be held accountable for his actions. However, we are told the amendments to the act are not retroactive.
“We have written a letter to the federal justice minister asking that a retroactivity clause be written in to the act in cases of gross violations,” he added. “If there ever was a case where a convicted sex offender has thumbed his nose at the law, this is it. Ultimately, we want Brent Gabona held accountable for his actions.”
Gabona was arrested on May 10, 2022, and charged with five counts of sexual assault and three counts of sexual exploitation of a person with a disability.
In March, Gabona, who is from Waldheim, pleaded guilty in Rosthern court to three counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual exploitation of a person with a disability. The Crown prosecutor withdrew two counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual exploitation of a person with a disability.
Gabona was to be sentenced in Oct. 11 but it was adjourned to January 2024.
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