A man from Red Pheasant Cree Nation has been sentenced to six years in prison for committing what the judge described as “horrific” acts. Blaisen Nicotine, aged 27, admitted to touching two young individuals inappropriately and distributing child pornography. During Nicotine’s sentencing at the Battleford Court of King’s Bench, Justice Brenda Hildebrandt condemned the abhorrent nature of the crimes.
The incident at Red Pheasant Cree Nation, where one offense took place, was uncovered by the RCMP following a report from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children to the Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation Unit. Nicotine, who was attending adult education courses at the school, was found in a bathroom stall recording himself engaging in inappropriate behavior when a young student entered. He then lured the child closer and captured the disturbing act on his cellphone, subsequently sharing the footage on social media.
In a separate incident, Nicotine engaged in sexual activities with a 13-year-old who had misrepresented his age as 18 online. Despite learning the truth, Nicotine proceeded with the illicit relationship, culminating in a series of disturbing encounters over ten days in a private residence. The victims’ identities were safeguarded by a publication ban, and no victim impact statements were presented in court.
Crown prosecutor Danie Cillers and defense attorney Daryl Royer jointly proposed the six-year prison term, citing Nicotine’s troubled background marked by violence, substance abuse, and childhood victimization. Nicotine, expressing remorse in court, sought forgiveness for his actions and expressed a desire for redemption. Despite the acknowledgment that the sentence was relatively lenient, the judge deemed it appropriate given the circumstances, recognizing that Nicotine’s guilty pleas spared the victims from further trauma.
Following the deduction of time served on remand, Nicotine is left with nearly three years and nine months of imprisonment. Justice Hildebrandt advised Nicotine to utilize the available rehabilitation programs during his incarceration to facilitate his journey towards rehabilitation and self-improvement.