THUNDER BAY - A man convicted of aggravated sexual assault and sexual interference will learn whether he is to be classified as a dangerous offender during an upcoming sentencing hearing in Thunder Bay.
Ricky Lionel Keewasin appeared in a Thunder Bay Courtroom on Tuesday for a sentencing hearing. The hearing was adjourned until Wednesday to allow attorney, Kevin Matthews, to review materials in the case before moving forward. Matthews agreed to take on the case for Keewasin’s attorney, Francis Thatcher, who is on medical leave.
Crown attorney, Rob Kozak, and Justice Newton agreed to adjourn the hearing until Wednesday, when joint sentencing submissions will be presented to the court.
“This is a very serious and complicated matter,” Newton said. “I don’t want to rush this. I will want to look at this very closely.”
Keewasin was first charged on Oct. 26, 2013 with aggravated sexual assault, sexual interference, breach of recognizance, and breach of probation. A publication ban is in place on details of the case to protect the identity of the victim.
He was convicted on Aug. 30, 2016. Following the conviction, the Crown submitted an application for a dangerous offender evaluation. A forensic psychiatrist evaluated Keewasin and a hearing was held on Nov. 24, 2017 to present the findings before the matter returned to court on Tuesday.
Under the criminal code of Canada, a dangerous offender designation is applied to an individual if the court finds he or she demonstrates a pattern of repetitive behaviour and restraint that could lead to death, injury or harm to others. An individual’s behaviour must also demonstrate a substantial degree of indifference and be aggressive in nature.
In other cases, an individual may also be classified as a dangerous offender if associated offences are determined to be brutal in nature and unlikely to be inhibited by normal standards of behavioural restraint.
Individuals deemed to be a dangerous offender can be subjected to an indeterminate jail sentence, a minimum sentence for the offence plus a long-term supervision period no more than 10 years, or a sentence for the offence that has been committed.
Kewassin has faced legal troubles in the past. He was convicted in 2009 of aggravated assault and was sentenced to four years and 28 days in custody.
