Former Cole Harbour teacher Sean Patrick Palmer, left, leaves Dartmouth provincial court with lawyer Ron Pizzo after being sentenced Friday for luring and sexually assaulting a 14-year-old student in early 2020. Palmer, who now lives in Ontario, received an eight-month conditional sentence of house arrest, followed by three years' probation. - Steve BruceA former Cole Harbour teacher will not be going to jail for luring and kissing a 14-year-old female student in the winter of 2020.
The house arrest will be followed by three years’ probation, which will include 100 hours of community service. “I find that if I had sentenced Mr. Palmer to serve time in an institution, the just and appropriate sentence would have been one of four months,” Sarson said.“I want to point out to those who think that this may be a lenient sentence that a conditional sentence order is a sentence of imprisonment served in the community,” Sarson said.
The teacher was initially charged with sexual assault and sexual exploitation. In October 2020, police added a charge of sexual interference and two counts of internet luring. The judge then ruled on the constitutionality of the mandatory minimum sentences, saying a combined one-year minimum jail term would be “grossly disproportionate.” He said a proportionate penalty would be a jail term of between 90 days and six months, or a conditional sentence.Defence lawyers Ron Pizzo and George Franklin requested a conditional sentence of between 90 days and six months, followed by a period of probation.
Education Education Latest News, Education Education Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: SaltWire Network - 🏆 45. / 63 Read more »