Historical sex charges lead to 23-year sentence for former Hants County man

KENTVILLE, N.S. — Mandy Wood said she hopes the 23-year sentence her father received Friday for 18 historical sex-related charges involving five girls, including her, sends a strong message.

“We’re not used to these, especially in Nova Scotia. … Maybe it will serve as a deterrent for other offenders,” she told SaltWire after Judge Chris Manning sentenced James Michael Snow in Kentville provincial court. “But most of all, I am hoping that it will help other victims because some of the previous sentences in these matters have been laughable.”

Snow, 63, stood trial on 41 charges.

Manning delivered his verdict May 5, convicting the former Walton, Hants County, resident on four counts each of sexual assault and sexual interference, three counts of invitation to sexual touching, two counts of gross indecency, and single counts of sexual exploitation, incest, attempting to overcome resistance by suffocation, committing an indecent act, and attempting to obtain sexual services for consideration from someone under the age of 18.

The offences were committed between 1984 and 1998, mainly in Walton, where Snow lived at the time. One of the sexual assaults took place in Halifax in 1988.

The incest charge involves Wood, Snow’s eldest daughter, who did not want her identity protected. There’s a publication ban on the identities of the other victims.

The sexual abuse ranged from exposure to attempted intercourse. The victims were between the ages of four and 17 when they were molested.

Denies charges

During an hour-long sentencing, Manning noted Snow denies the charges and feels there’s nothing he needs to change.

“Mr. Snow, you have a long journey ahead of you. I hope you come to grips with it and I hope you get whatever assistance you can obtain,” Manning said.

“I hope that one day you will accept responsibility. Your actions are despicable and disgraceful.”

He told Snow his unwillingness to own up to his actions delays the victims’ ability to move forward with their lives. Manning described Snow as intelligent man capable of expressing himself but said there is no point in participating in programming or counselling until he takes responsibility for his actions.

“I hope you will use those qualities one day to move forward and deal with this situation.”

Snow sat at the prisoner’s bench and held a file folder with documents during the sentencing.

“See you, Mandy,” Snow said as he walked by his daughter and waved while being led from the courtroom by sheriff’s deputies.

Wood, who did not acknowledge him, said she expected he would say something.

“He’s not just lying to the court when he says he didn’t do anything, he believes that himself,” she said. “Having known him for 43 years, there’s really nothing that he can say or do that would really surprise me.”

Another of the victims submitted a victim impact statement that Manning reads excerpts of during sentencing. She wrote that she has suffered from anxiety and depression her whole life and it has, at times, caused significant impact on her quality of life.

“At times, I hate myself. I feel guilty for not speaking up earlier, allowing him to harm others,” she wrote.

Significant sentence

Manning said R. vs. Friesen was a landmark decision and has been followed by courts across the country since being released by the Supreme Court of Canada in April 2020.

“The Crown hopes this sentence does send a message to the greater community that significant sentences will be imposed for repeat sexual offenders who perpetrate sexual violence against multiple vulnerable children,” prosecutor Rob Kennedy said outside the court.

Prosecutor Peter Dostal said Friday’s decision might be one of the longest sentences for these types of offences in Nova Scotia. He noted it had been a long road for the victims and the Crown hoped the conclusion of the proceedings brings some finality for them.

“The victims in this case, who were young children at the time that this sexual violence was perpetrated against them, have shown unbelievable courage and resilience by participating in this long and arduous process,” Kennedy added.

Snow was given two years, 10 months and six days’ worth of credit for time spent on remand and in lockdown. He was handed a lifetime Sex Offender Information Registry Act order, a lifetime firearms ban and a DNA order.

“I would like to say I am glad it is over, but I am sure he’ll appeal,” Wood said.

Jason Malloy is the lead editor of the Annapolis Valley Register. He can be reached by email at [email protected] and followed on Twitter at @JasonMa47772994.