Philip JACOBS, who previously served in the Diocese of Victoria as an ordained
Catholic Priest, has been found guilty of one count of Sexual Exploitation, in a BC
Supreme Court ruling this morning.
JACOBS was acquitted of three other charges which included two counts of
Sexual Interterference and one count of Sexual Assault.
JACOBS served as the Parish Priest of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in the
Municipality of Saanich until the spring of 2002.
The Saanich Police respect the decision of Madame Justice GROPER and are
pleased with the outcome of the trial. Madame Justice GROPER adjourned the
court proceedings to request the completion of a pre-sentence report including
a phychiatric component. Both reports will be completed and reviewed prior to
Madame Justice GROPER rendering any decision on sentencing.
“We are obviously pleased with the outcome of this decision. This would have
been a very difficult trial for any of the victims and their families to be involved
with, and we are pleased that the victims can begin to process these events and
hopefully move past them”, says Sgt. Steve Eassie.
The decision could result in JACOBS having a Criminal Record as a convicted sex
offender, and result in JACOBS being placed on the National Sex Offender
Registry in Canada. JACOBS could be liable to imprisonment for a term not
exceeding ten years and to a minimum punishment of imprisonment for a term
of forty-five days.
JACOBS will be sentenced on this matter in the coming months and will have an
opportunity to appeal the conviction should he decide to do so.
It should be noted that there is a Ban on Publication still in effect relating to this
trial, pursuant to Section 486.4(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada. Any
information that could identify a complainant or a witness shall not be published
in any document or broadcast or transmitted in any way, in relation to these
alleged offences.
The Saanich Police will not be commenting further on this matter at this time
given the fact that it is still before the Court awaiting a sentencing hearing.
Sgt. Steve Eassie #158