Prominent local lawyer Sandy Zaitzeff has plead guilty and has been convicted on four counts of assault, sexual and weapon related offences.
The prosecution and defence are recommending no more jail time.
The judge gave him eight months credit for his pre-sentence time in jail and strict bail conditions. He’s been sentenced to 15 months of probation.
Part of his probation includes not speaking with the people involved in this case and not have any intoxicating substances. He faces a weapons ban for five years and will be on the sex offender registry for ten years.
The 69 year old was charged by city police in November of 2016.
Several charges that Zaitzeff was facing were withdrawn, that included sexual assault.
A media ban continues in place to protect the identity of those connected to the case.
Evidence and anything that may identify the people involved can not be published.
The defence and prosecution told the judge that he plead guilty instead of having a trial.
Prosecutor Marc Huneault reviewed testimony that was very graphic in nature during proceedings.
Zaitzeff’s weapon related charge isn’t under a media ban.
Huneault told court that Zaitzeff showed several firearms to the Hobbses and said they were left by the previous owner of the house.
Zaitzeff didn’t have a license for those weapons.
Defence lawyer Scott Hutchison shared with the court some information about his client saying that the death of his son and wife left him in a very dark place with crippling sadness.
Hutchison added that there will be professional consequences for Zaitzeff being involved in this court proceeding.
He said Zaitzeff’s gentle retirement and good work in the community is now lost to him.
Hutchison told the judge that Zaitzeff has been sober for 17 months and that he is ashamed and profoundly remorseful.
Zaitzeff told the judge that he was humiliated beyond belief and that everything that happened was grotesque to the extreme.(File photo)
