BC Court Lenient on Man who Sexually Assaulted
Numerous Unconscious Teenage Girls

December 4, 2003, Vancouver BC

38-year-old Vancouver sex offender, Martin Tremblay, was sentenced in BC Supreme Court today. Tremblay received 3 and 1/2 years in custody and 18 months probation for sexually assaulting and videotaping 5 Aboriginal girls aged 13-15 at the time.

Originally charged with 18 counts of sexual offences and administering a noxious substance to numerous Aboriginal teenage girls, Tremblay plead guilty today to 5 counts of sexual assault against 5 girls.

Tremblay admitted to videotaping and sexually assaulting the girls while they were unconscious in his home. The crown alleged that Martin Tremblay enticed numerous girls to his house with alcohol and drugs. When the girls were impaired to the point of unconsciousness, Tremblay removed their clothing, sexually assaulted them, and videotaped the assaults. The girls were unaware that they had been sexually assaulted until they were shown video evidence, some for the first time in court, which included Tremblay fondling and orally raping their naked bodies.

Justice for Girls advocate Annabel Webb says the sentence is too lenient given the number of sexual assaults, the age and vulnerability of the girls, and the very disturbing nature of the offences. "We are disappointed with the sentence but not surprised by it because the courts rarely treat violence against Aboriginal teenage girls seriously. What is shocking however is the degree of racism and sexism that is tolerated in the defence of men who commit sexual offences against Aboriginal girls."

Tremblay's defence lawyer argued that he should receive a lesser sentence for his sexual violence against these girls because Tremblay was reacting to the stress of a marital breakdown when he committed the assaults. Then, referencing the First Nations heritage of the girls, the defence insinuated that the victims and their families were in part to blame for the girls' victimization by Tremblay.