Pheasant Rump First Nation Chief to be sentenced

On May 1, Terrance McArthur, chief of the Pheasant Rump Nakota Nation, Sask., pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a teenage girl on reserve. McArthur, who was elected in 2011, remained in office as of press time, and that is making the community nervous, with many calling for the chief’s resignation. The First Nation has rules that would force the resignation had the chief been convicted of an indictable offence, but the Crown proceeded by summary conviction, so McArthur is not required to step down. Some members of the nation are concerned that the band’s daycare is located downstairs from where the chief works. Candace McArthur, who runs the daycare, spoke out publicly saying she feared for the safety of the children, but complained days later saying chief and council had docked her salary almost $300 for speaking out. A cook at the daycare also has said her pay had been reduced. And others fear intimidation, including the young victim of the chief, whose mother said the family fled the community after finding a dead dog on their doorstep and their property vandalized. “Fleeing from there was the only option that I had to make sure the children and I were safe.” She said it’s frustrating that the victim has to leave and the perpetrator gets to remain in office. Chief McArthur was to be sentenced May 22.

Update: Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Forty-eight-year-old Terrance McArthur was led from the courthouse in Carlyle this morning in handcuffs after being sentenced to nine months in jail followed by 12 months of probation.

Both the prosecutor and the defence lawyer had jointly proposed a 12-month conditional sentence to be served in the commun.