The NWT Supreme Court has sentenced a man to 30 months’ imprisonment for a December 2020 sexual assault in Hay River.
Alex Roche was convicted of one count of sexual assault in December 2024. He was sentenced for the charge on Tuesday.
Crown prosecutor Angie Paquin had argued Roche should be sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. Defence lawyer John Hale sought a conditional sentence of two years less a day with house arrest.
In an impact statement filed with the court, the victim of the sexual assault – whose identity is protected by a publication ban – detailed the emotional, physical and economic impact the assault has had on her.
She said she has experienced persistent nightmares, emotional instability and “a profound lack of self-confidence,” adding what happened to her has affected her interpersonal relationships.
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“At times I felt like I was going crazy because it was difficult for me to trust others,” she wrote.
“I was feeling disconnected from myself and the world around me.”
According to a pre-sentence report, Roche is a 29-year-old Inuk man who was born in Yellowknife and raised in Kugluktuk and Fort Simpson.
He currently lives with his grandparents in Cambridge Bay. He said his grandparents encouraged a traditional lifestyle when he was a child and, since moving back to Nunavut, he has returned to traditional practices.
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Roche maintained his innocence but said he accepts the court’s finding of guilt and respects the victim’s point of view. He said after being arrested he has experienced depression and judgement from others and has sought counselling to cope.
Roche told the author of the report he did not want a jail sentence as he is employed and his first child was recently born. He said he was willing to comply with any conditions.
The report noted that since Roche was released from jail on December 18, 2023, he has “diligently” followed the “stringent” conditions of his release order.
The court file included several letters in support of Roche, including from his grandparents and employer.
With credit for time served in pre-trial custody, Roche has 23 months of his sentence remaining. The judge recommended that he be allowed to serve his sentence in Nunavut.
Once released from jail, Roche will be subject to a probation order with conditions for two years.
