Former Georgetown music teacher sentenced to jail time in sex assault case

Georgetown’s Arthur (Dale) Wood was sentenced on Dec.15 to 18 months in an Ontario correctional institution along with 36 months of probation in a sex assault case.

After pleading guilty, the former private music teacher was convicted of gross indecency and three counts of sexual assault on four students.

The sentence is lower than the crown’s recommendation of two years minus one day, but higher than the defence’s wish for a sentence of 12 to 15 months.

“Based on the case precedents, arguments and evidence (the judge) presented, I believe that the sentence was within appropriate guidelines for the crimes that Mr. Wood was prosecuted for,” Katherine Breward, one of the victims, said in a statement to the Independent and Free Press. “Of course I would have preferred a longer sentence.”

Breward is the only victim who does not have a publication ban on her name.

She got the ball rolling on Wood’s prosecution when she made a Facebook post in March of 2018 asking in a group that was related to Georgetown if anyone else had experiences like hers. Other victims came forward. That same year, Halton Regional Police arrested Wood on various charges related to sexual assault.

“Part of the reason why I was able to come forward when I did was that I have a lot of privilege and am not professionally and personally vulnerable,” Breward added. “But I think that, in this case, the women who did come forward have shown that it is possible to successfully hold this predator accountable for his actions.”

“A community-wide lack of accountability allowed this child molester to continue his activities unchallenged for decades.”

Breward says she is “still processing” how she feels, but feels vindicated. She is “happy that he is facing consequences.”

Wood did not speak at the sentencing. Justice Bruce Durno delivered a lengthy summary of the case before sentencing.

“The offender was in a position of trust. He abused it,” Justice Durno said. “He had an impressive background and was a trusted member of the community. The abuse of a position of trust increases the offender’s degree of responsibility.”

He also accounted for the remorse expressed by Wood in previous hearings. However, Justice Durno acknowledged that Wood has “some insight” into his action, “albeit not fulsome” insight.