EDMONTON—Former United Conservative Party MLA Don MacIntyre will serve three years behind bars after pleading guilty to one count of sexual interference, admitting to touching a young girl.

“It feels so good, because forever he’s been safe with his superiority, in his job and with his position in politics, in his position of power,” said the victim, speaking to media outside of court after watching MacIntyre led away by sheriffs. “He has always been in a position of power, so it feels so good to see that taken away from him.”

Details that could reveal the identity of his victim are protected by a publication ban.

According to an agreed statement of facts read by crown prosecutor Julie Snowdon in Red Deer provincial court on Friday, MacIntyre molested a 10-year-old girl between five and 10 times in Sylvan Lake, Alta., between 2010 and 2011.

The girl first reported the abuse in 2015.

MacIntyre, 63, resigned from his seat as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake in February 2018 after he was charged by Sylvan Lake RCMP for the offences.

Court heard that when the girl’s mother was out of town, the girl would sometimes share a bed with MacIntyre and he would massage her.

The girl said MacIntyre would touch her sexually all over her body, and says MacIntyre told her that, “God said that God was OK with the touching,” suggesting that if she could not be comfortable engaging in sexual activities with him, she would not be comfortable doing so with a future husband.

In the agreed statement of facts, MacIntyre says he does not remember the incidents but does not dispute them.

After the girl reported the abuse to her mother years later, MacIntyre penned an apology letter that described the assaults as part of “Satan’s plan” to challenge his faith and marriage.

After the abuse, the girl suffered from depression and visualized stabbing herself.

Facing her abuser in court, the girl stood flanked by her mother and brother to express her grief.

“I will carry this rage I have for him to my grave,” she said to the judge, fighting through tears.

Growing up largely isolated, home-schooled on the family farm, the girl said it wasn’t until she went to public school that she even knew what being molested was. Until then, she didn’t know what had happened to her was wrong.

“I was that brainwashed,” she said.

At first she blamed herself, crying herself to sleep every night for years.

She said she used to turn to creative pursuits as an outlet for her emotions, but she couldn’t bring herself to play music anymore.

She says the abuse she suffered at his hands ruined her family, she continues to struggle with intimacy and resents him for robbing her of her childhood.

Snowdon asked the judge to sentence MacIntyre to at least three years behind bars, taking into consideration her young age at the time of the crime, the repeated offences and his use of religion to manipulate her.

His defence lawyer Ian MacKay argued that he had shown true remorse, waving his right to a preliminary inquiry and trial to spare the girl from having to recount her abuse on the stand. The defence suggested a sentence of two years would be more suitable.

After the allegations became public, the court heard how MacIntyre lost everything, and was forced for a time to sleep on the couch of his constituency office.

His defence also argued the intense media attention paid to his case will ensure that MacIntyre will continue to be punished for the rest of his life.

MacIntyre — appearing calm in the prisoner’s box, crossing his legs and exposing the cowboy boots tucked beneath his suit pants as he chatted with the sheriff during a break in the proceedings — offered a brief apology to his victim and his family.

His thoughts then turned to his now third wife, 77-year-old Maggie MacIntyre, who will have to tend to the farm alone while he is incarcerated, saying after his sentence “we will live life as best as possible.”

Justice Debra Yungwirth said the repeated offences demonstrated a “long-term, predatory” pattern of behaviour and that his degree of moral blameworthiness was high as MacIntyre had the “opportunity to stop at any time,” before sentencing him to three years in prison.

MacIntyre will serve his sentence at the Bowden Institution at the request of his lawyer.

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Snowdon said she hoped his sentence would send a strong message to those who think they can abuse children with impunity.

“Abusers can and will be held accountable,” Snowdon said.

MacKay said he thought that the decision was “fair and balanced,” and emphasized the depth of MacIntyre’s remorse.

“Other than what had happened, Mr. MacIntyre is a decent fellow. Mr. MacIntyre served everyone, he truly loved his family, he truly loved his constituents, and I just hope people don’t forget that part of him,” said MacKay.

His victim, however, said that all of his good deeds in the community could not diminish the harm he caused to her and her family.

She said she was happy with the decision, and said seeing her abuser sent to prison gave her a renewed sense of confidence.

“I don’t have to be afraid anymore,” she said.

Speaking outside of court, she empowered other victims of abuse to break their silence.

“It does get better. I didn’t believe that for the first few years, but it does get better. Telling people about it can definitely speed the process of it getting better. Seeing your abuser go to jail will make it feel even better,” she said smiling. “There is always hope, and there is always help.”

MacIntyre was first elected in 2015 with the Wildrose Party, but continued under the United Conservative Party (UCP) when the Progressive Conservative Party and the Wildrose Party merged.

UCP Leader Jason Kenney said in a statement at the time of MacIntyre’s resignation that he and the party were unaware of the sexual assault investigation until MacIntyre phoned them Feb. 2 to say he had been charged and was stepping down.

“I was shocked and disgusted to learn of the serious criminal charges filed against former MLA Don MacIntyre,” wrote Kenney. “There are few crimes more vile than sexual crimes against children.

Read more:

Ex-Alberta UCP politician Don MacIntyre facing sex assault, interference charges involving minor

Former UCP politician facing sex charges waives right to preliminary inquiry

Alberta United Conservatives hold on to two ridings with byelection wins

Correction — January 16, 2019: This article was edited from a previous version that misstated the name of Don MacIntyre's third wife.

Claire Theobald is an Edmonton-based reporter who covers crime and the courts. Follow her on Twitter: @clairetheobald With files from The Canadian Press.

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