A man hailing from Red Pheasant Cree Nation has been sentenced to six years in incarceration for what the judge described as “horrific” actions. Blaisen Nicotine, aged 27, admitted to inappropriately touching two minors and disseminating child pornography.
During Nicotine’s sentencing at Battleford Court of King’s Bench, Justice Brenda Hildebrandt condemned the “horrific” nature of the offenses committed against the children. One of the incidents occurred at a school within Red Pheasant Cree Nation, as per the RCMP’s initial report.
The authorities were alerted to the situation after the Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation Unit was informed by the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children about a video being circulated on a social media platform. The police mentioned that Nicotine was attending adult education courses at the school.
According to the facts presented during Nicotine’s sentencing, he was caught filming himself in a bathroom stall engaging in inappropriate behavior when a young student entered the bathroom. Nicotine then called the child over, continued recording, and even pulled the child’s arm towards him. Subsequently, Nicotine shared the videos on a social media platform with multiple individuals.
The second victim, a 13-year-old who initially misrepresented his age as 18, engaged in sexual activities with Nicotine during a brief relationship. The victims’ identities are protected by a publication ban, and no victim impact statements were provided during the court proceedings.
The Crown prosecutor, Danie Cillers, and defense lawyer, Daryl Royer, jointly recommended the six-year prison term for Nicotine. Cillers acknowledged that the starting point for sentencing in such cases is usually higher but emphasized Nicotine’s troubled background, including a history of violence, alcohol and drug abuse, and childhood victimization by both strangers and family members.
Nicotine expressed remorse in court, stating that he prays daily for forgiveness and regrets his actions. The judge accepted the joint recommendation for a six-year sentence, considering it appropriate given the circumstances. Hildebrandt highlighted that Nicotine’s guilty pleas spared the children from testifying and encouraged him to utilize available prison programs.
With credit for time served, Nicotine has approximately three years and nine months remaining on his sentence.