Canadian soldier jailed in U.S. for ‘sexting’ teenage girl
link The Gazette
A Canadian soldier will spend several months in a California jail after he travelled to the U.S. in an apparent bid to see a teenage girl he had met online four years ago.
Michael DeBruyn, 25, who wass stationed in Dundurn, Sask., has been sentenced to one year in a Santa Clara County jail.
Authorities said DeBruyn arrived in Gilroy, Calif., after driving down from Saskatchewan, on April 10 and attempted to see the 17-year-old girl.
Authorities said the two had been sending explicit text messages to one another before the attempted meeting, which was thwarted when the girl’s concerned parents called police.
DeBruyn was arrested and has remained in custody.
He pleaded no contest this week to contacting a minor with intent to commit a specified crime, distributing harmful matter to a minor and possession of child pornography. The court reduced the offences to misdemeanours from felonies, said Amy Cornell, a spokeswoman for the Santa Clara County district attorney.
DeBruyn will receive credit for 248 days in pretrial custody, leaving four months remaining to be served.
DeBruyn, originally from Wallaceburg, Ont., was on leave when he was arrested.
DeBruyn’s future with the Canadian Forces will be determined after the completion of his sentence, said Lt. Donna Riguidel, a spokeswoman for 17 Wing Winnipeg.
Upon his release, DeBruyn will be returned to Canada. An administrative review of his file will be conducted to decide "what, if any, ramifications" will result.
DeBruyn could face discipline ranging from being assigned extra duties to a dishonourable discharge, Riguidel said.
(Reproduced under the Fair Dealings provisions of the Copyright Act)