ROSTHERN – The brother of a severely disabled man who was sexually abused for 17 years by caretaker Brent Gabona at Shepherd’s Villa in Hepburn said he is disappointed in the Canadian Justice system.
On March 8, in Rosthern Circuit Court, 53-year-old Gabona from Waldheim pleaded guilty – by phone and out of custody – 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's sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 11 in Rosthern court.
“We cannot rest until he’s behind bars,” Rick Boguski told SASKTODAY.ca in a phone interview from Alberta Friday.
Rick Boguski is fighting for justice for his brother Darryl Boguski – who is blind, has cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and is autistic – and was victimized by Gabona.
“It's become almost like a full-time occupation in terms of the demands on us to seek justice," said Rick Boguski.
The five victims of Gabona at Shepherd’s Villa required one-on-one 24-hour care for everything from bathing and getting dressed to eating.
“He has pleaded guilty to several counts of sexual assault and yet he’s at home posting memes on Instagram,” said Rick Boguski. “I just don’t see where the justice is at all in this case.
“How is it that a violent serial rapist can sit at home after pleading guilty? How is it that he can be in the comfort of his home pleading guilty to a series of violent sexual assaults while we are standing in court?”
The two brothers travelled from Alberta to face the man who abused vulnerable people.
“I had to rent a motor home, which was very expensive for us, so Darryl could travel comfortably enough to get to that court hearing because it was so important to us as victims that Darryl be present and be seen and that his voice be heard because for 25 years people ignored Darryl, mistreated Darryl, sexually abused Darryl and I’m here picking up the pieces.
“It was a tough day for Darryl emotionally because Brent Gabona’s name was being mentioned over and over again that day and it was just hard for him,” added Rick Boguski.
“I tried to prepare him and talk to him about this beforehand as best I could. But when you're in the moment and having to live it and you're the victim, I'm sure that it was extremely difficult for Darryl and he did express it in different ways.”
Disappointed Gabona makes deal with Crown
Rick Boguski said he was disappointed some of the charges were stayed and believes there would be more justice and public outcry if the victims weren’t disabled.
“It’s a huge slap in the face to vulnerable people everywhere,” he said. “If these [five victims] weren’t disabled, if they weren’t in a group home in a small town in Saskatchewan, if they were a group of teenagers that had been held for 17 years and raped and treated violently, I’m sure that people would be outraged.”
Rick Boguski had applied to the court last year to have the ban on publishing Darryl Boguski’s name lifted and in June 2022, a Saskatoon judge lifted the ban.
“I felt that I was alone with Darryl and I was outraged. I knew that we needed support in this case and that the only way for people to understand anything about what happened to Darryl, was to meet Darryl.”
No trial means no answers
Rick Boguski was also disappointed that there won’t be a trial because Gabona struck a plea deal with the Crown.
“Without a trial where does that leave us as a family without answers about what really happened to Darryl, and why it went on for so long?
“I want answers,” added Rick Boguski. “I want to know why Brent Gabona did what he did and I want to know why it went on for so long. I don't know who knew what but how can it go on for so long without people suspecting anything?”
Hours after Gabona pleaded guilty in Rosthern Circuit Court, Rick Boguski filed a civil suit at Saskatoon Court of King’s Bench against Gabona.
“Our only recourse is through the civil courts,” he said.
Dealing with the injustice of what happened to his brother is painful but Rick Boguski is determined to advocate for him.
“Just pouring over documents and piecing together what his life has been like has been really depressing so can you imagine living it? Darryl had the most horrible, despicable life that one could imagine and he deserves a better life in the future.
“We seek accountability,” he added. “There has to be justice.”
Rick Boguski has created a Gofundme page to help raise money for exorbitant legal fees.
Won’t be a victim
Rosthern RCMP say that their investigation determined that five adult residents at the care home were sexually assaulted by Gabona between 1992 and 2009.
Rick Boguski said that Shepherd’s Villa kicked Darryl Boguski out of the home he lived at for 25 years because he was acting out.
“And we now know why Darryl’s behaviour changed so drastically. Imagine yourself, or your own child, or your loved one or partner, mother, or father, being abused day after day, year after year, and not being damaged by it.”
Being in Rosthern Circuit Court March 8 was the first opportunity Darryl Boguski had to be heard, said Rick Boguski.
“It’s been really difficult on Darryl but I find that he is amazingly resilient considering the horror that he lived for 25 years in Saskatchewan and 17 years of sexual abuse by Brent Gabona. He truly is my hero because I don’t know of anyone that’s stronger.”
Darryl Boguski is recovering, said Rick Boguski.
“He’s OK. I mean there’s damages. There’s emotional damage, there has been physical damage, and this is a fellow that’s already vulnerable, being so dependent, and then not having any escape when he’s being assaulted.”
Darryl Boguski is now 62 but “he looks a Hollywood 40,” said Rick Boguski.
He said his brother won’t live out his life as a victim.
“I am promising Darryl that someday we will be free of all of this and we'll just jump in the car and we'll drive to the ocean. We'll put our toes in the ocean because he's never ever been in the ocean.”
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