A former Saanich nanny who pleaded guilty to several sex charges involving children will spend the next eight years in federal prison.
Jonathan Lee Robichaud, 33, was handed the sentence by Justice Geoffrey Gaul in B.C. Supreme Court on Monday afternoon.
Robichaud pleaded guilty to eight charges last July.
The charges included making, accessing, and possessing child pornography, sexual touching, and interference, as well as making sexually explicit material available to young people.
Robichaud was hired as a nanny for a family with two young sons in 2016. He committed the majority of the crimes involving the two boys, and one other child in 2017, before being arrested in September of 2019 following an investigation by Saanich Police.
Following the arrest, police discovered thousands of images of child pornography on Robichaud’s electronic devices.
Justice Gaul said Robichaud’s predatorial actions were a total distrust of the parents of the children.
“He convinced x and y parents that he would take care of the children, the parents were fooled by Mr. Robichaud, they placed their trust in him to take care of their children egregiously abused that trust,” said Gaul.
Crown prosecutors, who were seeking a five to nine-year sentence, says the judge sent a stern message.
“The justice found that this was a horrific crime and he imposed what is a very serious sentence. Courts in recent years have made it clear that sexual predators will receive a very serious sentence.” said Crown prosecutor, Paul Pearson.
Upon his release, Robichaud will be prohibited from attending public parks and swimming pools, engaging in any employment involving children, having any contact with children, having any contact with the victims, or use using the internet for social purposes for 25 years.
The identity of the children involved has been protected and cannot be revealed due to a court-ordered publication ban.
Ben Nesbit
