Former Saskatchewan Roughrider Trevis Smith has been sentenced to six years in jail for aggravated sexual assault after being convicted of knowingly exposing two women to HIV.

Provincial court Judge Kenn Bellerose, who delivered the sentence on Monday, found Smith guilty earlier this month of exposing the women to the virus that causes AIDS by having unprotected sex without telling them about his condition.

Former CFL player Trevis Smith, shown in file photo, was sentenced Monday to six years in prison for having unprotected sex with two women and not telling them he's HIV positive.

Bellerose sentenced Smith to 5½ years for exposing the two women to the virus and to an additional six months in prison for various bail violations related to the case.

While the Criminal Code provides a maximum sentence of life in prison for aggravated sexual assault, previous sentences for the offence have ranged from two to 14 years. The Crown attorney had argued for a 10-year sentence.

Smith's lawyer has already filed an appeal of his conviction.

The case centred on accusations made by two women — one from Regina and the other from Surrey, B.C. Neither has tested positive for the virus.

Smith's wife Tamika, who was in the courtroom for the sentencing, broke down in tears several times throughout the proceedings on Monday. Smith, for his part, showed no emotion when the judge handed down the sentence.

 

With files from the Canadian Press