Taylor, Thompson handed prison sentences; will get credit for time served

Two young women, who pleaded guilty to sex offenses involving children, have been handed a prison sentence.

A judge in Newmarket sentenced Kathryn Thompson on Wednesday morning to three years in prison, but will get credit for time served.

The judge ruled that with time already served her remaining jail sentence will equal 193 days.

Thompson will also be given long-term offender status and will be on the sex offender registry for 20 years. She will also be required to adhere to a DNA order.

A long-term supervision order will be in effect for four years. Those conditions will be determined by the parole board.

She was charged along with Shayne Lund and Avery Taylor.

"To retain his interest, Kathryn Thompson threw all judgement aside and joined Lund in a fast downward spiral that led her to commit serious offences," says Justice Joseph F. Kenkel. "She encouraged Lund to have sex with children. She planned with Lund to assist him in sexually assaulting children and others."

Taylor received her sentence on Wednesday afternoon, with the judge ruling she would be sentenced to four years and six months in prison. However, with time already served her remaining sentence will be eight months.

In Taylor’s case the judge said over the span of a few months, “she moved rapidly from discussion of abusive sexual behaviour to rationalization, to encouragement, than planning sex crimes and actual engagement in child sexual abuse."

The court heard there were four victims – children between two and five.

"She encouraged and aided him despite knowing that children were in danger," the judge said.

The judge said both women were manipulated by Lund, but that they also encouraged the dangerous sexual behaviour to happen.

The judge said both women are a risk to reoffend, but believed rehabilitation and strict supervision when they are released can help reintegrate them into society.

Taylor will be under supervision for six years and Thompson for four years. A parole board will determine the circumstances around that order.

Both women will be listed on the sex offender registry and must provide a DNA sample. For 20 years they won't be allowed in public places where children are present without supervision from someone over the age of 25.

They are also forbidden to interact with children online or access explicit material.

The judge noted that one thing that set these two women apart was Taylor's actual involvement in the crimes. Her actions were more involved than Thompson’s.

As for Lund, he's still waiting to be sentenced. He's due back in court in June.