Justin Sewell was asking the Supreme Court for permission to appeal his sentence. The Court did not provide a reason for rejecting the application.
Sewell’s lawyer has not filed a motion for reconsideration with Canada’s top court.
Back in October, BC’s highest court ruled Sewell must do prison time, allowing his sentence to be served in the community to be overturned.
Sewell had asked to be released on bail until the court rendered its decision. That request was denied.
Sewell, a veterinarian from Fort St. John, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault and two counts of voyeurism and was handed a conditional sentence earlier this year.
In 2007, while the victim was living with Sewell, his wife, and their children, he secretly drugged her drink with ketamine or Valium while his family was away, leaving her incapacitated.
He then sexually assaulted her and took nude photos without her consent.
She had no clear memory of the assault but recalled waking up as he removed her clothing.
On other occasions, he photographed her through her bedroom window.
A provincial court sentenced him to two years less a day for sexual assault, plus six and three months for two separate voyeurism charges, to be served concurrently, allowing him to avoid prison.
The appeal court ruled this was wrong, noting the voyeurism offences were separate incidents and infringed on her privacy beyond the assault.
The conditional sentence was overturned, and a prison term was ordered.
-M. Popove/CJDC
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