When Ron Bencze was sentenced last August to four years in prison for molesting a Surrey boy, the judge also imposed a 20-year ban on him visiting parks, schools or any other place children might be present.
That, says his lawyer, is not only one of the longest such prohibitions in B.C. history, but also bars Bencze from seeing his own kids.
Eric Gottardi made the arguments during an appeal of Bencze's sentence in B.C. Appeal Court on Monday (April 15).
Bencze pleaded guilty to one count of child sex assault last summer. The court heard that the former radio and TV reporter sexually assaulted the victim, who is now in his teens, between March 2003 and December 2010, when the boy was between the ages of six and 14. It wasn't until the boy's mother discovered sexually explicit text messages on her son's phone that Bencze's actions were uncovered.
Eight other charges allegedly involving two other children were stayed.
The trial judge called Bencze's crime "deviant" and questioned whether he even comprehended the magnitude of the abuse or whether it would still be going on had Bencze not been caught.
In seeking a new sentence, Gottardi argued the trial judge misunderstood a sentencing report and that Bencze showed remorse.
"The real issue was: is there a risk to other children? And there just isn't. The expert evidence says there's not," said Gottardi.
Three appeal court judges reserved judgment. Bencze, who last worked at Global BC television, remains in custody.
- with files from CTV