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Crown seeks 20-year sentence for convicted Barrie sex offender

Eric Johnson convicted of 10 sex-related charges against two victims
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The Barrie courthouse at 75 Mulcaster St.

The Crown is asking for a 20-year jail sentence for Barrie resident Eric Johnson, 51, who has been convicted of 10 sex-related charges against two victims.

Johnson’s lawyer has countered with a 10- to 12-year term suggestion to Superior Court Justice Annette Casullo.

Court heard sentencing submissions Friday that detailed graphic assaults against both victims that were perpetrated from a position of trust.

“His risk to reoffend is not low; it’s quite high,” Crown attorney Hanieh Azimi told Casullo in her submissions.

“His used both victims as sexual objects to satisfy his sexual urges.”

Azimi told the court the crimes against the first victim took place starting about 20 years ago and continued over a four-year span. Offences against the second victim took place between 2014 and 2019.

Johnson already has a criminal record, including a sexual assault conviction and more recently for assault with a weapon and common assault.

Johnson was originally meant to be sentenced earlier, but he failed to turn up for a May court date. He was arrested the next day and has been in custody since. Both the Crown and defence have agreed on pretrial credit for Johnson of about 400 days that will be adjusted upward to account for the time between now and when Casullo hands down a sentence.

The case returns to court next month to set a date for that hearing.

Desiree Torrance was sentenced earlier to a year in jail for lesser charges related to the case.