Sanirajak sex offender pleads guilty to 2 new sex charges

A Sanirajak man designated as a dangerous offender for past sex offences against children has pleaded guilty to two charges laid against him earlier this year.

Simeonie Issigaitok faces seven charges total.

In court in Iqaluit Tuesday, Issigaitok, who is in his early 70s, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual touching of a person under the age of 16, involving two victims.

A third count of that charge, plus three counts of sexual assault and one count of a probation violation, were stayed by Crown prosecutor Emma Baasch.

In court, Baasch read out an agreed statement of facts for each of the two counts.

The first occurred in Sanirajak sometime between 1987 and 1989. In that incident, Issigaitok assaulted a girl in her early teens at her home while her parents were asleep.

The second incident occurred in April this year. During a community event in Sanirajak, Issigaitok was captured on security camera video touching a boy while he was seated with a group of children.

After both statements, Issigaitok confirmed the incidents happened as Baasch described them.

The two convictions add to Issigaitok’s lengthy criminal record of sexual offences committed against children spanning from the 1980s to this year. He was previously handed convictions and jail sentences in 1997, 2006 and 2014.

During a sentencing hearing 11 years ago, Justice Bonnie Tulloch declared Issigaitok to be a dangerous offender.

A dangerous offender designation is assigned to people who have been convicted of multiple violent offences and require intense supervision after their release.

Baasch said in court the Crown will seek a new dangerous offender designation for Issigaitok because the one imposed on him in 2014 has expired.

Issigaitok listened attentively and responded to the court interpreter as he sat in his walker beside defence lawyer Alan Regel.

There was an attempt to enter the pleas during the morning court session with Issigaitok attending by videoconference from the Aaqqigiarvik Correctional Healing Facility in Iqaluit.

However, Justice Mark Mossey chose to do it in person in the afternoon because Issigaitok was having difficulty following remotely.

Issigaitok remains in custody and is set to return to court on Jan. 6.

Mossey did not set a sentencing date. He advised Issigaitok that more steps are needed before his case will end, including the completion of a new dangerous offender assessment.