Army cadets during a Remembrance Day ceremony.Jason Franson/The Canadian Press
A military court has sentenced a former deputy commander of the Victoria-based military cadet corps to one year in jail and banished him from the military for sexually abusing teenaged cadets.
Captain Daniel Moriarity, 26, was also demoted to a second lieutenant by military Judge Lieutenant-Colonel Louis-Vincent D'Auteuil, who said the man used and abused his power to fulfill his desires.
Capt. Moriarity was convicted of sexual exploitation, sexual assault and sexual interference by a military court last October in connection with attacks on a 15-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl in separate incidents at the Vernon, B.C., army camp.
During Capt. Moriarity's sentencing on Wednesday, the judge said the victims are still emotionally dealing with the man's actions.
He said the female feels betrayed.
"She put all the trust she could in you and you let her down," Lt.-Col. D'Auteuil told Capt. Moriarity.
The judge noted the male physically fought off Capt. Moriarity to stop his advances.
"Enough was enough," Lt.-Col. D'Auteuil said.
In a joint submission, the military prosecutor and Capt. Moriarity's defence lawyer called for the 12-month sentence, rank demotion and military expulsion.
Moments after the judge delivered his sentence, the defence submitted an application to release Capt. Moriarity pending the outcome of an appeal.
Capt. Moriarity then testified during the release hearing on Wednesday, saying he takes full responsibility for his actions and vowed he would never repeat them.
"I just wanted to let your honour know, the court know, I'm very apologetic for what happened," he told the hearing. "I can be a productive member of society. I will do everything in my power to make sure I would never reoffend."
Capt. Moriarity was deputy commanding officer of the Victoria Signal Armoury Cadet Corps 3005 when he was arrested.