To secure a conviction, the Crown must prove:

• The accused intentionally touched the complainant,

• The complainant was under the age of 16 at the time,

• The touching was for a sexual purpose.

A conviction for sexual interference will usually result in jail time, and can have lasting consequences such as registration on the national sex offender registry and restrictions on employment or travel.

Several legal defences may be available depending on the facts of the case. These can include mistaken belief in age, if the accused took all reasonable steps to ascertain that the complainant was at least 16 years old, or denial of the alleged contact altogether. In some cases, the defence may argue that the Crown has not proven the required elements of the offence beyond a reasonable doubt. Every case is fact-specific, and an experienced criminal defence lawyer can help assess and present the most effective defence strategy.

Sexual interference cases are sensitive and complex, and require a careful and experienced legal approach. Every sexual interference case involves a young person, sometimes very young. When defending sexual interference cases, it is crucial that the defence lawyer have vast experience cross-examining children professionally and tactfully.