Sentence upheld for dangerous offender in Kamloops sex assault

VANCOUVER – A panel of judges has upheld an indeterminate prison sentence for a man convicted of confining and sexually assaulting a pregnant and mentally disabled sex-trade worker in Kamloops.

The B.C. Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed a legal challenge on Friday by Dennis Bragg, who was designated a dangerous offender in March 2013.

The panel found that a B.C. Supreme Court judge was correct in concluding Bragg's risk could not be managed in the community with a long-term supervision order.

Justice Anne MacKenzie said in the decision that the lower court's ruling was reasonable, given the nature and extent of Bragg's criminal record, correctional history and behaviour while on statutory release.

Bragg was 46 years old when handed the indeterminate sentence, but his criminal record began when he was 27 and includes at least six assaults and eight sexual assaults, some with weapons.

The unsuccessful appeal stems from June 2009, when a 22-year-old sex-trade worker who was seven months pregnant thought she would be killed after she tried to refusing his sexual demands.