By Tiffany Goodwein

Further delay in sentencing for Vernon physiotherapist

Dec 9, 2019 | 5:31 PM

A judge has adjourned the sentencing for Stephen Witvoet, a Vernon physiotherapist who earlier pleaded guilty to nine counts of sexual assault.

Judge Jeremy Guild called the case an unusual one and struggled to determine the appropriate range of sentencing on Monday.

“We’re given a proposed sentence but I don’t have any analysis on what an appropriate range of sentence is, so I can’t tell on a joint submission, does it fall within the appropriate range?” Guild said

The Crown and defense suggested an 18 month conditional sentence order which is served in the community followed by 24 months probation.

During the sentencing hearing the judge also wanted time to address media access to exhibits and other legal issues.

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“In my view I think it’s important to sort through all the legal issues first and lengthwise, parenthetically, the same thing with respect to the application by media to have access to certain exhibits. The reason for that is, at the moment, we are in the middle of a process, and the process is yes, there’s a joint submission, and the process set out by Anthony Cook [previous case] is, is it an acceptable joint submission?” said Guild.

Witvoet, 47, appeared in court wearing a grey dress shirt and pants. Several people were in the courtroom including a victim.

Witvoet entered guilty pleas in court in October to nine counts of sexual assault involving female patients at his Thrive Physiotherapy clinics between 2009 and 2016.

There was a total of 16 female complainants. One was 18 at time. The oldest was 53. Stays of proceedings were issued in several other cases.

A date for sentencing to resume will be set Wednesday in provincial court.

by Tiffany Goodwein

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