A former Barrie man who was convicted earlier this year of sexually assaulting his stepdaughter between the years 2000 and 2006, from when she was four to 10 years old, was sentenced Friday in a Barrie courtroom to six years behind bars.
Richard Sticklee, 59, who also has a history of fraud, was convicted on four counts of sexual assault in January, following a three-day trial in December 2022.
Ontario Superior Justice Catriona Verner lifted the publication ban during the July 27 sentencing hearing, at the victim’s request, which allowed media to report Sticklee’s name at the time.
The victim, Trinity Waide, 28, told BarrieToday, outside the courtroom after the verdict, she thought “it was a very fair and just sentence.
“I wish longer, obviously, but there’s no time we could put on this, really, to make up for what happened.”
Verner told the courtroom she based her decision on Sticklee’s “substantial, but unrelated (criminal) record, the seriousness of the offences, Ms. Waide’s age at the time, the serious breach of trust, and the devastating impact on Ms. Waide.”
The judge reiterated a statement by the defence earlier in the trial, which said, “No sentence will compensate Trinity Waide (for) the childhood and innocence she was lost. No sentence could accurately reflect the damage that Mr. Sticklee has done.”
Waide’s family members in attendance clapped when handcuffs were placed on Sticklee as he was led away from the courtroom.
In addition to the six-year sentence, Sticklee is prohibited from attending a public park or public swimming area where children younger than 16 are present, daycare centres or playgrounds, community centres, or be employed or volunteer where it involves being in a position of trust to anyone younger than 16, for 10 years following his incarceration. He is also prohibited, for life, from being within two kilometres of where Waide resides.
Waide said she feels a sense of closure now that the trial has concluded.
Having the publication ban lifted, she also feels she is able to get her message out to others who may find themselves in a similar situation as hers, as a victim of sexual assault as a child.
“Don’t stay silent,” she said. “Go forward with it, and no matter what the outcome is, this is a huge part of healing, and it’s very empowering to look your abuser in the face and let them know what they did was wrong.”
