Repeat offender sentenced for 2016 sexual assault in Red Deer

A man with a history of violence and dangerous behaviour has been sentenced for a sexual assault in downtown Red Deer nearly two years ago.

Monday morning, at the start of his scheduled two-day trial, Daniel Leonard pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault in relation to the April 8, 2016 incident involving a 29-year-old female victim.

A joint submission from the Crown and defense that Leonard be sentenced to 952 days (approximately 2.5 years) in prison, while giving him 1.5 times credit for the 652 days he has spent in pre-trial custody at the Red Deer Remand Centre.

Justice Marilyn Slawinsky agreed to the submission while also giving Leonard two years’ probation and a lifetime firearms prohibition. She also ordered him to submit a DNA sample and that his name remain on a sex offenders registry for the rest of his life.