Time served for sex exploitation
By CHERYL WIERDA
Abbotsford News Nov 11 2006

Roelof “Rollie” Vos has finished serving his jail time on a charge of sexual exploitation.

On Thursday afternoon, Justice Brian Joyce sentenced the 40-year-old karate school operator to one day in jail in addition to the equivalent of five months already served. (He was given the usual two-to-one credit for the two and a half months he served prior to his sentencing).

Vos pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation in September.

Joyce also handed Vos a two-year probationary period.

The incident which gave rise to the charge took place in Vos’ apartment, recounted Joyce, and involved a former karate student that Vos had remained friends with.

The 14-year-old boy was using Vos’ computer, Joyce said, and was “apparently accessing pornographic sites.”

Defence lawyer Darrel Schultz added the boy was “grabbing himself” as he was on the computer.

That’s when Vos “took out” his genitals and also “took out” the boys’ genitals, Joyce said.

The victim complained that it hurt when Vos rubbed his genitals, and Vos then stopped, said Crown counsel Wayne Norris.

Vos owned and operated a karate school in Abbotsford and received “stacks” of letters of support, Schultz told Joyce on Thursday.

“They would be indicative of someone who has had an extremely positive impact on a lot of people,” said Schultz. “Someone who has great teaching skills...someone who has the ability to motivate people.”

The victim, said Schultz, was dealing with problems prior to meeting Vos, and “it was the parents who were calling on Mr. Vos to help out with their son.”

Vos denies that he was “grooming” the youth, Schultz notes from a passage in the pre-sentence report, and adds the report’s author said Vos “does not appear to minimize what happened.”

However, Norris raised concerns about some of the things in that report, including “an apparent lack of complete acceptance” of responsibility by Vos.

“Mr. Vos has a problem that he must address. If left to his own devices, it is unlikely this will be addressed,” said Norris.

In addressing the court, Vos said he “regrets the impact the incident caused” and called it “inappropriate.”

However, “there were no sexual intent or sexual gratification at any time,” he said.

Joyce accepted the apology, but said: “I’m not satisfied he (Vos) fully understands the impact of what he did to that young victim.”

The incident had a “serious impact” on the youth, he said, and the fact that Vos helped the victim in the past perhaps “makes the incident even worse.”

A probation order, said Joyce, “is the best way to address that important principle of rehabilitation.”

Vos is expected to undergo therapy and counseling during his probationary period.

As well, probationary terms bar him from being alone with children under 16 unless in the presence of an adult previously approved by his probation officer, and gaining employment or undertaking volunteer work where he’s in a position of trust or authority of a youth under the age of 16.

Vos remains in custody on other charges.

© Copyright 2006 Abbotsford News