*Mike McIntyre* *Jan **12, 2011*
A former counsellor at a Winnipeg treatment facility has admitted sexually exploiting a mentally disabled woman placed in his care. Michael Borkowski, 62, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to months of abuse while working with the 23-year-old client at New Directions. Crown and defence lawyers are making a joint-recommendation for Borkowski to be given a two-year conditional sentence that would allow him to remain free in the community, followed by three years of supervised probation. Provincial court Judge Jean McBride has reserved her decision. Lawyers said in court that they struck a plea bargain for several reasons, including the victim's reluctance to testify against Borkowski, his lack of a prior criminal record, expression of remorse and the fact he's been deemed a low risk to reoffend. "I understand the pain I've caused and for that I'm ashamed and truly sorry," Borkowski told the judge. He has been free on bail since his September 2009 arrest. Borkowski began working at New Directions about 15 years ago, but was fired after he went to his supervisors and admitted to an improper sexual relationship with the woman that had started months earlier. Crown attorney Terry McComb said the victim has "cognitive and mental disabilities" and began attending a day program at New Directions in which Borkowski was one of eight workers. They eventually struck up a friendship, which included a mutual love of art. The woman, who also was being treated for schizophrenia, began to think of Borkowski as her boyfriend. "She was pretty vulnerable to kindness," McComb said. Their relationship escalated to become sexual, with Borkowski admitting to numerous incidents of touching and fondling. Although they were consensual acts, the woman's diminished capacity and Borkowski's position of trust over her made them criminal. Borkowski's proposed sentence would prohibit him from working with any vulnerable people. His name would also be placed on the national sex offender registry. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/ex-counsellor-admits-sexually-exploiting-disabled-woman-113339244.html# -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/MhaNewsViewsIndia?hl=en ------------- Affiliated Groups : MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INDIA [email protected] Discussions on mental health law / policy / plan monitoring / human rights etc [email protected] India-specific news and views related to mental health [email protected] Information and support to carers of people with mental health issues [email protected] Mutual support and sharing of experiential knowledge, skills and social learning amongst peers
