A Behchoko, N.W.T., man convicted of sexual assault was sentenced to five months in jail, despite letters of support from community leaders who urged the court to be lenient — support that shocked the female assault victim.

Jonas Bouvier, 48, was sentenced in a Yellowknife courtroom last week on sexual assault charges stemming from incidents at the Colomac Mine site last year.

A female co-worker testified Bouvier repeatedly approached her at work, despite her telling him to leave her alone. The woman said Bouvier twice snuck up and grabbed her from behind to give her bear hugs, and tried to pull her into his room.

In addition to supporters for both the woman and Bouvier appearing in the courtroom, several Behchoko-area community leaders wrote letters calling for a lenient sentence for Bouvier.

Tlicho Christian Fellowship Pastor David Shed, Behchoko Chief Leon Lafferty, and Monfwi MLA Jackson Lafferty urged the judge not to jail Bouvier because his wife is ill and he is the sole provider for their family.

Jackson Lafferty said he probably would have written such a letter even if a member of his family had been the victim.

"I would basically do what I've done," he said. "I've contacted other members, the leaders, and seen where they stood, and felt comfortable that the family needs the caregiver."

The judge said jail time was required to condemn Bouvier's behaviour and recognize the harm it has done to his victim.

The Tlicho woman, who cannot be identified due to a publication ban, told CBC News that none of the community leaders contacted her before writing letters in support of Bouvier.

"I'm surprised because they never got both sides of the story," the woman said. "They say, 'Oh, he's nice, he's a really good man, working hard for the family.' What about me?"

The woman said Bouvier's aggressive advances left her shaking and wary of people approaching or touching her.

But she added that she has received a lot of help navigating through the court process, especially from friends, territorial women's groups and victims groups. She urged other victims of workplace sexual assault to come forward.