Judge sentences business owner to 13 years in prison for sex crimes involving vulnerable children

A small-business owner convicted of sexually exploiting two vulnerable 13-year-old girls — one of whom later died of a drug overdose — has been sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Seated next to his lawyer, 44-year-old Michael Edward Bruce exhaled loudly and dropped his head into his hands as King’s Bench Justice Sadie Bond sentenced him Wednesday morning.

Bruce was found guilty after trial last year of 11 sex-related offences, including luring, involving the two girls as well as a then-19-year-old woman.

Prosecutors had urged Bond to sentence Bruce to 20 years in prison, saying he exploited young girls he knew were vulnerable to satisfy his “selfish desires.”

“A heavier sentence, such as proposed by the Crown, may at first blush appear to better reflect society’s abhorrence of the abuse of children reflected in all but one of Mr. Bruce’s offences,” Bond said. “However, it must be remembered that the prison sentence to be imposed is to be served by a man who has no criminal record and some prospects of rehabilitation.”

Court heard evidence at trial that Bruce, who owns and operates an HVAC business, had contacted a woman who lived in the Charles Walk area in the North End in April 2022 to arrange to have sex with her in exchange for work he had completed. The woman instead provided him with contact details for a 13-year-old girl.

Bruce contacted the girl over Facebook and arranged to have sex with her in his pickup truck in exchange for $20 and a case of Twisted Tea alcoholic drinks.

The girl’s grandmother learned about the sexual assault and contacted police. The girl provided two video statements but later died as the result of a drug overdose.

Court heard testimony Bruce had sex with the second 13-year-old girl, who was in foster care, as payment for giving her a ride home.

The adult victim testified Bruce sexually assaulted her in his truck when she was intoxicated and slipping in and out of consciousness.

Bruce admitted at trial that when one of the girls threatened to report him to police, he told her: “Who are they going to believe — a gang member or a homeowner?”

Bruce was arrested in June 2022, but not charged until the following September after Winnipeg police completed a lengthy analysis of his electronic devices.

Defence lawyer Mike Cook urged the judge to sentence Bruce to just six years in prison, describing him as a loving father of two and community-oriented businessman who has bought and renovated several rental properties to open up housing for the needy.

Cook said Bruce had an upbringing marked by poverty, housing instability and exposure to domestic violence. Bruce was raised by a single mother and had no male role model. Cook argued Bruce’s sexual maturation was stunted by early and prolonged exposure to pornography and an uncle who glorified empty sexual conquests.

“Michael Bruce was not taught about love, caring, how to be a good spouse or boyfriend,” Cook said. “He lacked some of the foundational blocks that would take him into adulthood.… It’s no surprise that he found himself in trouble as years went by.”

Bond dismissed a defence argument Bruce never set out to sexually exploit the child victims and was merely mistaken about their true ages.

“The argument amounted to a claim that Mr. Bruce’s offences in relation to (the child victims) involved mere technical non-compliance with the law,” Bond said Wednesday.

“It was Mr. Bruce’s responsibility to avoid having sex with children,” she said. “He treated his victims as objects, dehumanizing them. He exploited their vulnerability.”

Bond ordered that Bruce’s name be placed on the national sex offender registry for life. She also ordered that Bruce have no contact with children other than his own and not seek employment or volunteer positions where children are present.

At a sentencing hearing last month, Bruce claimed an interest in becoming an advocate for abused children upon his release from custody.

“My concern is that such engagement… could bring Mr. Bruce into contact with vulnerable children and put them at risk of manipulation and exploitation by him,” Bond said.

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca