Sentencing proceedings commenced on Friday for a former St. Francis Xavier University football player convicted earlier this year on two charges of sexual assault, with differing opinions between the prosecution and defense regarding the manner in which the sentence should be carried out.
Omogbolahan (Teddy) Jegede, aged 25, and the two female victims of the sexual assaults were all enrolled as students at the Nova Scotia university during the occurrences in 2022 and 2023, which transpired on the Antigonish, N.S., campus.
Both victims delivered impact statements during the sentencing. One victim spoke from behind a screen to shield herself from seeing Jegede, revealing the psychological toll she endured, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, agoraphobia, and panic attacks.
The second victim did not appear in court, opting to have her statement read by the Crown. She detailed suffering from headaches, anxiety, nightmares, and having to relinquish a summer job due to the stress induced by the assaults.
Additionally, the second victim’s mother provided a statement, illustrating her daughter’s transformation from a cheerful, enthusiastic 19-year-old to a person plagued by anxiety, emotional distress, and social withdrawal.
During the court proceedings, Crown prosecutor Courtney MacNeil urged Justice Frank Hoskins to impose a 27 to 36-month prison term for both offenses, emphasizing the gravity of sexual assaults and the profound impact on the victims.
In contrast, Jegede’s defense lawyer, Adam Rodgers, proposed a community-based sentence for his client, suggesting that Jegede serve his term in the community, specifically in his hometown of Fort McMurray, Alta., far removed from the site of the assaults and the victims.
Rodgers presented letters of support from members of the Nigerian community in Fort McMurray, attesting to Jegede’s character and family background.
When given the opportunity to speak in court, Jegede described the post-conviction period as physically and mentally challenging, maintaining his innocence throughout.
Both the Crown and defense concurred that Jegede must provide a DNA sample for a national database and be listed in the national sex offender registry, though they disagreed on the duration of the registry listing, with the Crown advocating for a lifelong registration and Rodgers suggesting a shorter period.
Justice Hoskins is set to announce the sentencing decision on December 17.