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A disgraced Vernon physiotherapist won't see any jail time for sexually assaulting several female patients.
Stephen Witvoet was sentenced to to an 18-month conditional sentence with six months under 24-hour house arrest and a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew for the remainder of the sentence.
B.C. Provincial Court Judge Jeremy Guild also handed Witvoet two years probation.
Witvoet also had to submit a DNA sample and will be placed on the national sex offenders registry for life.
“Given the notoriety of his offending, his neighbours and the community will know of his restrictions. It is the maximum jail sentence for each offence. A community jail sentence provides considerable denunciation and deterrence, and those objectives perhaps have more impact because of the notoriety. There has been a great benefit to the victims and the administration of justice,” Guild said in a written reasons for judgment.
“Collateral consequences are a factor in considering whether a sentence is proportionate. A collateral consequence includes repercussions for an offender that results from his conviction or sentence. There are repercussions for Mr. Witvoet. His ability to practise his profession will be restricted, if it is not over, practically and professionally speaking. He will be subject to a review by his professional body. It is expected his ability to practise will be severely restricted, possibly terminated. The notoriety of his offending has had practical repercussions. People do not want to see him for treatment and others paying rent at his practice have left. I am told he faces financial jeopardy as a result. He has separated from his family.”
Witvoet was initially arrested and charged with two counts of sexual assault in December 2017 for offences with patients dating back to September 2015 and January 2016.
Police then made an appeal for more possible victims to come forward, resulting in 12 additional charges being filed.
In October 2019, Witvoet entered a guilty plea to nine charges of sexually assaulting female patients while they were undergoing treatment.
Witvoet practised out of Thrive Physiotherapy and Sport Injury Clinic in Vernon.
