A sentence of five years imprisonment with parole eligibility after one-third for maintaining a sexual relationship with a step-niece aged 14-15 over eight months, involving multiple acts of intercourse and other sexual acts, with a timely guilty plea and no prior convictions, is not manifestly excessive. Comparable sentences imposed under earlier, lower maximum penalties are of limited utility given the increase in the maximum penalty to life imprisonment.
The full text is available to signed-in members.