The Crown is seeking a total sentence of 18 years in prison for a man convicted of horrific sexual violence against a half dozen wayward teens.
That means 82-year-old Bruce Escott could be almost 100 years old by the time he gets out, minus credit for three years of time served since his arrest.
The submission was made this morning by Crown prosecutor Deidre Badcock, who cited case law that would see no preferential treatment for Escott due to his age.
Defence lawyer MacKenzie Hughes, however, said Escott’s age should absolutely be considered, and proposed a total sentence of nine years, half what the Crown is asking for.
Hughes suggested the Crown was “inflating” its sentence in hopes of setting a high standard for Escott’s co-accused, Tony Humby, whose trial is set to start March 3rd.
A frail Escott appeared in provincial court this morning by video from jail in Bishop’s Falls because he wasn’t well enough to travel to St. John’s.
Bruce Escott is shown on video at the Bishop’s Falls Correction Centre. (VOCM News)
He has pleaded guilty to seven charges, including sexual assault, sexual interference and sexual exploitation against six teenage males who were 18 or younger.
The offences date back over the past 25 years, and have been compared to the brutal cases of abuse that occurred at the former Mount Cashel Orphanage, with older men preying on boys.
The facts confirm a years-long scheme by Escott and Humby, 64, to lure and sexually assault vulnerable youth at their east end homes, and in Escott’s taxi cab.
The allegations against Humby have not been proven.
Escott is scheduled to be sentenced on March 4th, a day after Humby’s trial is due to start.
Earlier story
The Crown is seeking a sentence of 18 years in prison for a man convicted of horrific sexual violence against a half dozen wayward teens.
That means 82-year-old Bruce Escott could be 100 years old by the time he’s released, minus time served since his arrest in April 2023.
The submission was made this morning by Crown prosecutor Deidre Badcock, who cited case law that would see no preferential treatment for Escott due to his age.
The frail man appeared in provincial court this morning by video from jail in Bishop’s Falls because he wasn’t well enough to travel to St. John’s.
Defence lawyer MacKenzie Hughes and Crown prosecutor Deidre Badcock in provincial court. (VOCM News)
Escott pleaded guilty to seven charges, including sexual assault, sexual interference and sexual exploitation against six teenage males who were 18 or younger.
The offences date back to the late ’90s and early 2000s, and have been compared to the brutal cases of abuse that occurred at the former Mount Cashel Orphanage.
The facts confirm a years-long scheme by Escott and co-accused Tony Humby to lure and sexually assault vulnerable youth at their east end homes, and in Escott’s taxi cab.
The allegations against Humby, who has his trial set for March, have yet to be proven.
Escott’s sentencing hearing continues this afternoon, when defence lawyer MacKenzie Hughes is expected to make his case for a lesser prison term before Judge Phyllis Harris.
