Editor’s note: the following story includes details some may find upsetting or triggering.
A Catholic priest who once worked in Guelph has been found guilty of sexually assaulting an underage girl while he was working at a church in Hanover.
On Jan. 30 at a courthouse in Walkerton, Father Mervin Perera, 73, was found guilty of touching the underage complainant for a sexual purpose.
There is a publication ban in place to protect the identity of the victim.
Perera was welcomed to Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate in a fall 2015 newsletter from the church. He also previously worked in Cambridge and Ayr.
The Diocese of Hamilton web site says Perera retired from his position as associate pastor in 2016.
The diocese did not immediately respond to questions emailed them from GuelphToday.
Justice John Sproat wrote in his reasons for sentencing that Perera was working as a semi-retired priest at the time of the offence.
Sproat said Perera was alone with the girl and conducted a "virginity test" using a finger. On the same occasion Perera "anointed" the girl by rubbing oil on her body, including her breasts and vagina.
Sproat said Perera traded on his position of authority as a priest and used the victim’s religious convictions to manipulate her.
By doing so, Sproat said Perera’s abuse of trust and authority ‘was at the very high end of the scale.’
Sproat said the assaults continue to have a very significant impact on the victim and she reported they made her fearful, worried, confused and depressed. She has suffered a suicidal depression and continues to attend counselling.
Sproat noted mitigating circumstances in the reasons for sentencing, including Perera’s poor health and letters of support filed in his favour.
The Crown was seeking a four to five year prison sentence, while Perera’s defence asked for a conditional sentence without jail time.
A conditional sentence would not be appropriate, said Sproat, because of concerns Perera would not abide by the conditions because he already violated court orders to not contact the victim or her family.
Perera was sentenced on March 31 to 21 months in jail, followed by three years probation. If not for Perera's poor health and COVID-19, Sproat said a jail term of 30 months would have been appropriate.
He was also ordered to not associate or communicate with anyone under the age of 18 unless accompanied by a competent adult 21 years of age or older, must not communicate with the victim or her family and attend counselling for sexually offending behaviour and sign releases to allow the probation officer to monitor his progress.
Perera is also subject to a DNA order and will be listed for 20 years under the Sex Offender Information Registration Act (SOIRA).
The Owen Sound Sun Times reported Perera has appealed the decision and was released immediately after sentencing.
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