  Eric Tillman has received an absolute discharge for a sex assault. (QMI Agency) |
Eric Tillman has been granted an absolute discharge after admitting he sexually assaulted his children's 16-year-old baby-sitter in 2008.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders general manager pleaded guilty to a summary charge of sexual assault on Monday in Regina, and Tuesday's decision was the lightest sentence one can receive.
"It is a sentence," said David Deutscher, a law professor at the University of Manitoba. "There's been a finding that he committed the offence."
Tillman will not have a criminal record. The absolute discharge will be kept on record, but it will be purged from his file after one year. After that, it cannot be used against him in a court of law.
Court heard that on Aug. 6, 2008, Tillman came up behind the victim at his Regina home, put his fingers in her belt loops and pulled her rear end into himself when she bent over to feed one of his children.
Tillman's lawyer, Aaron Fox, said his client wasn't thinking clearly at the time because he had taken the wrong combination of sleeping pills and back medication.
Tillman, who has helped guide the Roughriders to the Grey Cup in two of his three-plus seasons with the club, said he doesn't remember the incident but accepts the blame.
"I want to make it very, very clear that a mistake was made," Tillman told reporters outside the courthouse on Tuesday. "As I said (Monday), I assume full responsibility for it, although it was without one ounce of malice or intent.
"It's a regret that I'll take to my grave."
Judge Murray Hinds told the court that Tillman deserved the light sentence he ultimately received.
"There's no suggestion that Mr. Tillman is not generally of good character,” Hinds said. “He has no prior criminal record. His behaviour towards (the teenage girl) on Aug. 6 appears to be an aberration fuelled by his consumption of two non-prescription drugs which he used for sleep and pain relief.
"It is significant that he accepts that he is responsible for his action and he appeared genuinely remorseful for these actions.”
The 52-year-old Mississippi native was allowed to work for the Roughriders from his home since the charges were initially laid last February, but his duties with the team were taken away from him on Monday after he pleaded guilty.
The Roughriders’ board of governors said it planned to meet as soon as possible to determine Tillman’s future with the team, but it is unknown when that meeting will take place.
Tillman want to remain with the Roughriders.
"I hope my relationship continues with the club," he told reporters. "If it doesn't, I will (still) have a great deal of gratitude. They need to take whatever time is necessary to make that decision (about my future)."
— With files from The Canadian Press
