Kevin Maryk, jailed for hiding his kids in Mexico, gets 4 years for sex assault
Winnipegger will get credit for the 2 years he has been in custody
A Winnipeg man who made national headlines for abducting his two children and hiding them in Mexico for four years was handed more jail time on Tuesday after pleading guilty to sexual assault.
Kevin Maryk was sentenced to four years but he was given credit for the two years he has already spent behind bars. He was also given two years of unsupervised probation.
Maryk, 45, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault in May 2016. The assault took place between Jan. 1, 2002, and May 30, 2006 — before he abducted his children.
Crown attorney Debbie Buors told the court on Tuesday that Maryk engaged in "violent behaviour" with the victim and that the assaults took place on many occasions for about a year.
"On some occasions she would be choked," Buors said.
Maryk was also charged with uttering threats and living off the avails of prostitution, but those charges were later dropped.
Victim impact statement
Court heard on Tuesday that the female victim still suffers from anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder and has been unable to work.
There's a publication ban on the victim's identity.
During the sentencing hearing, a victim impact statement was read in court by Buors.
I have flashbacks and I haven't had a full night's sleep in a year- Victim impact statement
"I'm always in a state of flight or fight. I'm afraid he will not leave me alone and come after me," the victim impact statement said.
"I have nightmares, I have flashbacks and I haven't had a full night's sleep in a year," the statement went on to say.
Justice Chris Martin asked Maryk if he wanted to say anything before he was handed his sentence.
"No thanks," Maryk said quietly.
In 2008, Maryk took his two children on a two-week court-approved vacation. Maryk kept the children for four years before being discovered at a townhouse complex in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Maryk pleaded guilty to two counts of abduction in 2014. He was sentenced to four years behind bars, but the sentence was later reduced to 374 days after he was given credit for time served.
In the sexual assault case, the judge accepted the joint recommendation for a sentence of time served plus two years less a day and two years of unsupervised probation.
Before handing down his sentence, Court of Queen's Bench Justice Chris Martin had some harsh words for Maryk, saying he preyed on his victim.
"You have complete disregard for [the victim's] dignity," Martin said.
Defence lawyer Todd Bourcier said the earliest Maryk could be released from custody is 16 months from today.