Forty-eight-year-old Terrence McArthur was led from the courthouse in Carlyle this morning in handcuffs after being sentenced to nine months in jail followed by 12 months of probation.
The sentence caught lawyers off guard.
Both the prosecutor and the defence lawyer jointly proposed a 12-month conditional sentence to be served in the community.
However, Judge Karl Bazin rejected that, saying it would be unfit and it would put the administration of justice in disrepute.
Instead, he imposed the nine-month jail sentence.
Bazin said the sexual assault involved a child who was 16 at the time and the penalty must reflect society’s denunciation of such action.
He also said the accused did not show remorse and attempted to minimize his actions.
The incident involved inappropriate touching.
It happened on the Pheasant Rump First Nation in southeast Saskatchewan in April of 2012.
McArthur pleaded guilty to the charge on May 1.
He had refused repeated demands to step down as chief — but now that he has been sentenced to a jail term, a by-election will likely have to be held.
McArthur did not address the court and he had nothing to say as he was led away in handcuffs.