A 15-year-old girl with a history of violent assaults against care-givers has been given a nine-month sentence for seriously assaulting two female corrections guards at the Manitoba Youth Centre.
The girl, who cannot be identified because of her age, will spend the next six months under constant guard at the centre before being released to spend the following three months out on strict community supervision.
Provincial court Judge Michel Chartier was told Monday that shortly after midnight on April 5, the girl - in custody for breaching the conditions of a prior release - punched a corrections guard in the face while being escorted from the washroom.
When another guard intervened, the girl responded by punching her twice in the eye, causing an injury serious enough that the guard was taken to hospital.
After the incident, the teen was sent to a maximum-security youth facility for three weeks and then returned to the youth centre.
The teen -- a permanent ward of Child and Family Services -- has an extensive record. She has been convicted of 11 prior violent offences, mainly directed toward care-givers or other people attempting to assist in her rehabilitation.
Her pre-sentencing report indicated she is a "very high risk" to re-offend. Crown attorney Craig Savage told the judge that keeping the teen locked up is the only way to protect the public.
"There's no remaining option but custody... . We're at the final straw, so to speak," he said in asking for the custodial sentence.
The sentence does not take into account the 93 days already spent in jail.
Defence lawyer Serena Puranen told court that after suffering extensive sexual and physical abuse at the hands of her family before being taken away from them at age eight, the girl carried a deep mistrust of people.
"When you spend more than half your life and nobody's looking out for you - it's very difficult to overcome that."
Since becoming criminally liable at the age of 12, the teen has spent the majority of her time behind bars.
Chartier cautioned the girl that her 18th birthday is approaching and her growing criminal record shows her situation isn't getting better.
"You have to make the decision to get out and stay out," he said.
james.turner@freepress.mb.ca
PREVIOUS
