A judge will soon make a decision regarding the punishment for a man who was found guilty on charges of touching for a sexual purpose of a person under 16 and sexual assault, though the sexual assault charge was stayed.
During a hearing on Friday, Feb. 21, lawyers deliberated on the appropriate sentence for Matthew Porcher, a former support worker at two West Shore youth homes who was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old who was in the care of one of the homes in 2022.
Defence lawyer Owen James was asking for a jail sentence of 20 to 24 months, while Crown counsel Sofia Green was looking for a sentence of three-and-a-half to four years.
Reading from the victim's impact statement, Green noted that since the offence took place, the victim B次元官网网址� who cannot be named due to a publication ban B次元官网网址� has "strong feelings of anger" toward Porcher, and that "happiness is gone." He had also noted that he developed a dependence on alcohol and has gotten in trouble with the law despite not having a criminal record prior to the offence.
While working at the home, Porcher, now 23, would play video games with the boy and they developed a close relationship, which involved multiple policy breaches on Porcher's part by staying later than he was supposed to, talking to the boy on private social media accounts, and "roughhousing" while the boy was shirtless.
In his November decision, the judge noted that one staff member became concerned that Porcher's relationship with the teen "was unprofessional and lacked boundaries" and she reported her concerns to her supervisor.
She said that Porcher's grooming behaviour was a significant aggravating factor when it comes to determining his sentence, as well as a "profound breach of trust" as a person in power taking advantage of a child.
James however, saw mitigating factors, including Porcher's past volunteer work with the Victoria Police Department and the Our Place Society, and his willingness to participate in counselling.
He also mentioned the stigma from the "extensive and critical, sometimes scathing, media coverage" of the case, which James says has contributed to Porcher's declining mental health, and could have an impact on any future job prospects.
At two Greater Victoria homes operated by IDM B次元官网网址� Metchosin House and IDM House B次元官网网址� Porcher made meals, woke up youth and encouraged them to go to school, took them to appointments, addressed emerging problems and put them to bed during his employment between September 2021 and April 2022.
Justice Gareth Morley is likely to make a decision on Porcher's sentence on March 6.
