A former Mount Boucherie Secondary school teacher who sexually exploited a student will spend two more years behind bars.
Bradley Furman, 30, broke into tears as judge Clarke Burnett sentenced him to a total of 38 months in prison for various charges related to his relationship with a 17-year-old student. He was given 11 months credit for time served.
鈥淢r. Furman鈥檚 actions must be denounced and deter others from engaging in similar relationships,鈥� Burnett said, adding that his action have had a 鈥減rofound detrimental effect鈥� on the victim and her family and Furman has 鈥渉as tarnished the profession.鈥�
The sentencing is slightly more than the 36 months suggested by Furman鈥檚 defence lawyer Claire Hatcher and far less than the 71-month sentence sought by the Crown.
Furman will also be required to register as a sex offender and avoid contact with the victim and her family.
READ MORE: 鈥業 hate you鈥�: Student tells former West 91大黄鸭 teacher who sexually exploited her
READ MORE: 鈥楧eeply sorry鈥�: Former West 91大黄鸭 teacher offers emotional apology to student he sexually exploited
The relationship between Furman and his student began during the
They began speaking on social media during spring break. Topics of discussion included video games of mutual interest as well as Furman鈥檚 marital issues, to which the girl provided advice.
The relationship鈥檚 secrecy unravelled as Furman called the girl out of two classes on May 1, 2018. This prompted suspicion from Furman鈥檚 co-workers, who brought the matter to school administrators.
Upon watching security footage of the two walking 鈥渢oo close,鈥� the school鈥檚 principal and vice-principal had conversations with Furman and the girl separately.
The girl told the principal of the messages and the eventual progression into a sexual relationship.
Furman was asked by school administrators to show the messages, but he refused. According to the Crown, the school鈥檚 principal told Furman he would be fired if he destroyed the communications.
Following the conversations with the administration, Furman did just that, asking the girl to delete all correspondence and the associated accounts.
Investigators subsequently obtained 2,700 pages of messages, some of which point to the relationship continuing for another 13 months after the initial arrest in May 2018.
Furman was arrested four times for breaching conditions of his bail, specifically for making contact with the girl and members of her family.
鈥淭his is not a Hallmark channel love story,鈥� Crown counsel David Grabavac said in December 2019.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not two teenagers; it鈥檚 not two people on a level playing field.
鈥淚t was a calculated, deliberate attack for his own sexual gratification.鈥�
Hatcher disagreed, saying it was not a violent attack and Furman has not attempted to contact the girl since June 2019.
鈥淗e does think about the damage he鈥檚 done every day,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very impactful deterrent that Mr. Furman, who is a first time offender, is now facing life as a sex offender. He won鈥檛 be able to travel much at all. These are real consequences that have already been kneaded out.鈥�
Furman showed his remorse during sentencing proceedings, silently sobbing at several points over the four separate days. On Jan. 23, Furman apologized to those he wronged saying he was 鈥渄eeply sorry.鈥�
鈥淭he relationship that happened between the student and myself was my responsibility,鈥� Furman said. 鈥淚鈥檓 deeply sorry for all the pain that I鈥檝e caused them as a family and the wedge I drove between them. It is my greatest hope and wish that they can move past this together and leave this traumatic event that I鈥檝e caused behind them.鈥�
Furman went on, apologizing to the courts for the multiple breaches of his bail.
鈥淢y disregard for the laws and conditions is inexcusable,鈥� said Furman. 鈥淪ince being incarcerated, I鈥檝e had a lot of time to think about my actions and I can see how truly deplorable they were.
鈥淚t is my sincerest intention to fully comply with any conditions given to me and not repeat any mistakes I鈥檝e made in the past.鈥�
michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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