Bruce Escott sentenced to 13 years for sexual violence against 6 teenage victims
Abuse of children is 'reprehensible,' judge says in rendering decision
Bruce Escott has been sentenced to 13 years for a series of sexual offences against male youths over a period spanning more than a quarter century.
He had previously pleaded guilty and was convicted of sexual violence involving a half dozen male victims, who ranged between the ages of 13 and 18.
"A number of the victims were essentially children at the time of the offences," Judge Phyllis Harris said in her decision, noting that was an aggravating factor.
Harris described the offences as serious, involving the exploitation of multiple vulnerable youth over a long period of time.
"Children are among the most vulnerable members of our society, and are deserving of protection and care from adults," Harris said.
"It's difficult to conceive of an offence that is more reprehensible than one which involves the exploitation and abuse of a child, let alone multiple children."
Escott has been in custody since his arrest nearly two years ago. With a time-and-a-half credit for that period, he has about 10 more years to serve.
He committed the crimes between 1995 and 2021.
At a sentencing hearing last month, Crown prosecutor Deidre Badcock described Escott, now 82, as a "predator," and called for a sentence of 18 years to be imposed.
Badcock said Escott sought out and befriended low-income group home kids and groomed them "all as a means to satiate his sexual deviancies."
The defence countered with a submission for half of that — nine years — and, in arguing for less time behind bars, compared Escott's case to sentences handed out during the Mount Cashel era.
One of Escott's victims was in the courtroom Tuesday morning while the judge was delivering the sentence.
That man — who can't be identified because of a court-ordered publication ban — was around 14 when the abuse began nearly two decades ago.
He told reporters he believes Escott should have gotten more time.
"I don't feel like we got justice at all," he said.
"There's no amount of therapy or talking to anyone that's ever going to help get over anything like this."
The trial for Escott's co-accused, Tony Humby, is now scheduled to begin in two weeks.
Humby has pleaded not guilty to dozens of charges.
The man at court Tuesday is also a complainant in Humby's case.
According to the agreed statement of facts in Escott's matter, he told police Humby and Escott "acted in concert together, committing acts together."
Humby and Escott were neighbours in a trailer park near the airport in St. John's before police arrested both men in April 2023.
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