Allan Dean Griffin continued to proclaim his innocence as a judge slapped him with a nine-year prison sentence in a Calgary courtroom on May 24.
The sentencing hearing came approximately two months after Griffin was found guilty. Justice John McCarthy took three months to deliberate the verdict after hearing testimony from both stepdaughters, the women’s mother, members of the Griffin family and Griffin himself.
“My (kids) are my life … I’m extremely devastated,” he said during his sentencing.
The seats on Griffin’s side of the courtroom were packed as family and friends showed their support during the approximately two-hour hearing.
“My family and friends never doubted my innocence … only when these lies have been exposed will justice be served,” Griffin said choking back tears.
Griffin was found guilty on March 29 of two counts of sexual assault involving minors – against his stepdaughters Taylor and Kylie French. Both are now in their 20s. Griffin has maintained his innocence throughout the trial.
Taylor and Kylie’s mother, Lisa Fox spoke to the Cochrane Eagle afterwards voicing her concern on how she wishes there was a broader awareness of “the issue.”
“The impacts of these crimes are felt by the whole community, damage to a child is not only devastating to a family and a life, it is also a scar on the community. Without recognizing this and building awareness to stop it, children won’t come forward, families will suffer in silence,” Fox said.
Taylor and Fox both read victim impact statements to the court last Wednesday.
“This broke my heart and permanently injured my soul,” Fox said.
Fox became emotional on the stand as she told the courtroom how she felt like she “failed” as a mother and human being for not knowing about the abuse and allowing Griffin to enter their lives.
“I thought I was building a solid family and I thought he was a good man … (it) was the biggest mistake of my life,” Fox said.
The abuse of the girls started between the ages of five and six and lasted over a period of five years.
“Impact – this is no longer an ‘impact’ but the story of my life,” Taylor said during her victim impact statement.
Taylor detailed how the abuse followed her throughout her life – including two trials and a pre-trial.
Justice Keith Yamauchi originally acquitted Griffin on Dec. 6, 2013. The verdict was appealed five days later and a re-trial was ordered.
“I’m pretty f--ing broken … this has been my nightmare for 15 years and he walked away free once,” Taylor said.
Taylor said the abuse and trials have affected her personal relationships and work life as she felt like she was not able to move forward until the “nightmare was over.”
“I wanted to be normal but I don’t really know what normal is,” Taylor said.
The 22-year-old said she “forgave” Griffin because she realized he is “sick and needs help” while also noting that she also forgave her stepfather because she didn’t want to “destroy” herself.
Kylie opted to have the judge read her victim impact statement silently.
Crown Prosecutor Ron Simenik asked for a 10 to 12 year sentence, while Defence lawyer Paul Brunnen suggested four to five years.
Before Justice McCarthy handed down the nine-year sentence, he said the fact that Griffin showed “no remorse” and never admitted guilt were not factors when deciding his sentencing.
The “aggravating factors” included sexual assault of two girls from the same family, the use of pornography and the escalation of the abuse.
“Offences were committed in the family home where the (girls) should have felt “safe,” McCarthy said.
Griffin will now serve a global sentence of nine years encompassing all charges, including time served. He has been in custody since March 29.
