Scott Stanley tells court he 'hates' himself for child luring
Judge says she won't issue sentence Thursday after new submissions made in court
A former Scouts Canada leader told the court, "who I am hates who I've been and what I've done," during a speech at his sentencing hearing after admitting to luring four boys and repeatedly molesting them.
With a shaky voice, Scott Stanley spoke on Thursday afternoon in an Ottawa courtroom after his lawyer asked for a sentence of three years less a day, while the Crown asked for six to eight years of incarceration.
Stanley, 30, was a volunteer with Scouts Canada for five years, beginning in 2009. He is also a former City of Ottawa lifeguard and swim coach.
Stanley pleaded guilty in late June to 10 counts of sexual interference, three counts of luring and three counts of invitation to sexual touching. The incidents occurred when the boys were between 12 and 15 years old.
At Thursday's sentencing hearing, Stanley's lawyer Brett McGarry argued his client has a strong desire for treatment and to continue treatment he's already receiving. He also argued his client has taken responsibility for his actions and is seeking treatment.
McGarry described his client as a man with a poor self-image who found a "misplaced acceptance" with teens he identified with. He said his client "knows he's going to pay for this or the rest of his life."
McGarry said a mitigating factor is that there was no physical abuse and no threats in the offences. Stanley has already spent 205 days in pre-sentence custody, and 220 days on house arrest with strict conditions.
'He knew what he was doing,' Crown says
Crown lawyer Suzanne Schriek said Stanley was trusted to look after the boys he later admitted to molesting, and that it's an aggravating factor that can't be overstated.
Stanley also received verbal and written warnings about his closeness to the boys and ignored those rules, Schriek said.
"It's another level of deception and manipulation. He knew full well what he was doing," she said.
Schriek asked the court for a six- to eight-year sentence.
Perkins-McVey said she would not hand down a sentence Thursday because of new submissions from both sides made in court that morning related to available treatment programs for offenders.
Stanley will be sentenced Oct. 29.
Scouts Canada warned about Stanley
The molestation began in the summer of 2012 and continued for a year and a half, according to an agreed statement of facts read in an Ottawa courtroom.
Stanley took the boys to movies, hosted visits in his parents' basement and drove the boys to secluded locations, court heard.
Stanley told one boy not to tell anyone about the sexual abuse because he would get in trouble, court also heard.
Another scout leader told CBC News he warned the organization that Stanley was spending time alone with boys, despite the "two-deep rule" that requires scouts to always be under the supervision of at least two adults. He said some of the abuse could have been prevented had the organization heeded his warnings sooner.
An Ottawa group commissioner was dismissed for inaction.
Andrew Price, executive commissioner and CEO of Scouts Canada, has said the group’s national level only heard about the allegations at Stanley's arraignment. He said several people in the local group have left and at least one person was asked to leave for not forwarding the complaints.
The fifth estate: Scout's Honour
A 2011 investigation by CBC-TV's the fifth estate and the Los Angeles Times revealed that Boy Scouts of America and Scouts Canada recorded names of pedophiles who infiltrated their ranks, but failed to share the information with the authorities. Watch "Scout's Honour" here.