Crown pushes for 8 years for former security guard

A former security guard with the Ottawa Hospital will be spending time in jail; the question is how much?

In court today, the Crown said it was seeking 6 to 8 years for Clinton Russell, who was convicted of sexually assaulting two developmentally-delayed women.  Both were patients at the Civic campus.  Russell's lawyer says 3 years is more appropriate for the crime.

The 44-year-old has denied the charges, which, according to the court, took place in 2010 and 2011.  Both victims are covered under a publication ban to protect their identity.  Court evidence revealed that the first victim was 18 at the time of the assault, but that she functioned at a level of a 7 to 12-year-old child.  That assault involved coercing the intellectually-disabled patient into performing oral sex.

Court also heard evidence from another victim who was in her late 20’s when the incident happened in 2011.  She also functions at the level of an 8 to 12-year-old.

In urging Justice Monique Metivier to consider an 8-year sentence, Crown  prosecutor Suzanne Schriek indicated that Russell was clearly in a position of authority to these women, knew where security cameras were installed and how access to the psychiatric ward worked “which allowed him to be exploitive and predatory,” she said.

Defence lawyer Ian Carter that aside from these charges, Russell fit the description of an “ideal individual” with no previous convictions, strong family support and a sexual behaviors report that indicated he was at low risk to re-offend.

Justice Metivier will decide on sentencing May 28th.