= Assault ‘numbed’ girl

From page 1

other “band people.” She likes her music classes, English and arts and doesn’t like math or science.

:, She’d like to continue studying music once she’s passed Grade 12.

"She doesn’t play succer anymore.

She was applying for the position of junior soccer coach fer the Fun in the Sun soccer school at Ambleside Park in July of 1995, when head coach Graham Adams took her to his Deep Cove home. There,

_ he pulled her on top of him and told her ke wanted to make love to her; rubbed her back, and rubbed and tried to kiss her

reasts. He was 62, she had just turned 15. < She said she didn’t fight him because ¢ was afraid.

"MY feel he’s the kind of man who thrives on being in power. I didn’t know what he would do.” She said she didn’t want to

lake things worse. -

“I know what happened to me was not severe ‘as it could inave been.” “When he took her home he didn’t ask her not to tell anyone. “Actually, the last words I heard from him in private were ‘I had a very enjoyable

24] don’ t think he knew me the way he ‘though’ he ‘did — he didn’t think I would tell anyone.”. ©

Adams, ’ meanwhile, denied all allega-

The teen said she learned from a young

school ‘that sexual assault was not to

be tolerated.

The next day, she went to her band teacher and told what had been dene to her.

“I don’: think 1 had really cried for

about three years at that point.” But telling her teacher was one of the most difficult things she’d ever done, and she cried for about 10 minutes straight.

Bur it was the months and years after her statement that were to become the real ordeal.

“They tell you if some- thing bad happens, to tell someone you trust. They don’t tell you whar happens

“I saw too many police officers and lawyers that summer. i spent too much time in the Crown counsel

In the academic year fol- lowing the assault, her great grades slipped.

Only her marks in music stayed high.

“Muste was an oudet for me through this whole

The assault “numbed ; me. I didn’t want to be around people.” She remains wary of physical contact.

“I find myself paying attention to com- ments peopie make — actions they do of a flirtatious nature.”

She doesn’t have a boyfriend and she

doesn’t want one. But she said it’s not

“They tell you if something bad after. : happens, to tell someone you trust. They don’t office.” tell you what happens after.

TI saw too many She didn’t go back to the police officers and lawyers that

thing.” summer.”

because of the assault.

“Pm not interested in teen romance, | don’t chink it’s necessary — but it’s pro- found, the amount of pressure on teens (to date).” She said there was a rumor at her school that she was a lesbian, but she put it to rest with jokes.

“I’m just not mature enough to handle (a relationship). I'd much rather get in 2 mud fight than a make-out session.”

She said worst of all was taking the stand in court for two and a half days dur-

the trial.

ay felt like I was on wial.” She said Adams’ defence lawyer, Richard Israels, first suggested the assault was a figment of her imagination, then suggested she'd pro- voked it.

She knows that isn’t true.

“T certainly don’t think I conveyed the message that I wanted it.”

courthouse after hee testi- mony. Not for the verdict and not for the sentencing, nor did she write a victim impact statement. It’s over and she wants to move on.

She thinks if Adams's victim had been someone else, someone not as strong cmo- tionally as she is, he would never have been called to task.

“I know it’s hard to come out and say ‘Someone hurt me.’ ” But, she said, it’s important to speak up.

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‘ The. sil | ; teported the $ [ “teacher. at her

d over two : in 1996 Judge Ellen Burdett convicted Adams ial. ‘assault.° - On Wednesda he sentenced him, dams,‘ a" heavy set, = ed/'m dressed i in "a Bige next ‘to his’ lawyer

ghout the proceedings. uring * his: sentencing argument’ prosecuting Crown wye! ald: Kockx referred re-sentencing réport

le bya probation officer.

‘According ‘ to .the* report,

‘Adams“:would ‘not cooperate

Vith the officer. He declined to

ide his resume and refused

ways the officer

could contact people for infor- mation.

According to the report, Adams continued to suggest the victim was lying, even alter his conviction. Mr Ad

“It appears Mr. Adams per- ceives henself to bea victiea,” Kockx qu uoted from the report. The officer also said in the report that Adams appeared to

_ take 110 responsibility for the

assault and showed no remorse. The officer also suggested

‘Adams had groomed the vic-

tim, that the offence was planned rather than oppor- tunistic.

Defence lawyer Israels called the statement “outra- geous,” and said the assault

was am “aberrant incident -

totally isolated in the context of this 64-year-old raan’s life.”

Tsraels also said Adams has a curriculum vitae that is “envi- able” and has been a champion

of causes as well as a champion soccer player in his youth in England and a mode! coach. He pointed out that Adams had no prior record and no

‘other complaints had been

made about him although he’d had coutact with “thousands and thousands of children” in his coaching career.

He said Adams did not pro- vide contacts to the probation officer because he is a proud man and didn’t want acquain- tances or family to know of his conviction.

“He is remorseful — extremely remorseful,” said Isracls. “After all, he did have feelings for her and her family. Sexual or otherwise, he did have feelings for her.”

Although the Crown sought incarceration and pro- bation, Burdett said she did not think there was a danger

Adams would re-offend, so he is to serve his sentence in the community of 168 Mile House, where he now lives with his wife and son.

Burdett said Adams’s crime was aggravated because he

“was in a position of trust to this 15-year-old ... as her coach and family friend. *

The judge said that Adams is not to engage in employ- ment or activities which would pet him in contact with females under 18 years of age; he must undergo sex offender treatment as required by his probation officer; he must pay for any therapy or treatment the victim undergoes as a result of the offence; and he is to have no contact with the vic- tim or her mother.

A spokesman for Israel said Adams would not be appealing his conviction or sentence.

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