A man from Perth, who used to volunteer with the Children’s Aid Society (CAS) of Ottawa, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison after admitting guilt to sexual interference involving a minor.
The names of the child and his family are kept confidential due to a publication ban.
In Ontario Criminal Court in Perth on Tuesday, Andrew Ryerson mostly remained silent while an agreed statement of facts was read aloud.
The court learned that over three months, Ryerson had earned the trust of a young boy’s family. He took his role seriously, even buying the child an expensive gift and funding educational activities.
However, it also came out that when they were alone, Ryerson would have inappropriate conversations with the boy and let him watch pornography.
On one occasion, they watched pornography together at Ryerson’s house – which led to sexual activity before the boy requested that it stop.
![]()
Assistant Crown Attorney Jessica Carvell leaving the courthouse in Perth, Ont., on April 22, 2025. (Joseph Tunney/CBC)
The Crown also presented the victim impact statement from the young boy through CCTV from another room in the courthouse.
He mentioned how Ryerson told him not to share anything with anyone and just “trust him.”
The boy expressed feelings of emotional pain as well as physical hurt. He noted that thinking about someone who should have cared for him makes him feel like harming himself or others.>
The boy wrote about being unable to sleep in his room anymore because he’s scared Ryerson will come back for him. >
“I want t”o feel safe again and go back t”o my life before,” th”e statemen)t reads. >
The b’oy’s mother also provided her thoughts saying R’yers’on’s choice t’o sexually abuse her son c’amie d’own t’o “a lifelong sentence.”
“You’ve shaken our safety an’d security as a fam’ily,” she said directly addressing R’yers’on.![]()
D efence lawyer Craig Penney leaving th’e courthouse i’n Perth , O nt., o n A pril 22 , 2025. (J oseph T unney / CBC)
Source link
‘I wholeheartedly take responsibility’
Speaking to the court, Ryerson did not downplay his actions. He stated that he groomed, manipulated, and exploited a vulnerable 10-year-old. “I wholeheartedly take responsibility for sexually abusing him,” Ryerson said, close to tears. “And for violating the trust that was placed in me by his family and the Ottawa Children’s Aid Society.” “What may have looked to him as choices he was making was, in fact, me manipulating a vulnerable child for my own sexual gratification,” Ryerson added later. In court on Tuesday, Ryerson had a shaved head and wore jeans along with a black-and-red checkered long-sleeve shirt and dark vest. He was arrested back in September and faced several charges initially. On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual interference while others were dropped. He informed the court about his intention to continue therapy during and after serving his sentence.In addition t’o h’is 30-month pr’ison sentence – recommended by both th’e Crown an’d defence – Justice Janet Robb al’s’o set several conditions.
R’yers’on is banned fr’om c’ommunicating with th’e b’oy an’d h’is immed’i’ate fami’ly , must provide DNA samples , an’d is under firearm prohibitions. H’e w’il’l also be listed on th’e sex offender registry an’d will n’t be allowed within certain areas where minors under six’teen are present , including bein’g wi’thin two k’ilometers of th’e vic’tim’s home. R’yers’on will also n’ot be allowed t’o seek j’ob or vol’unteer work involving any position o’f trust over youth.Source link
