Antonio Charlie-Matias was jailed for a pair of sex crimes against vulnerable female victims in Nanaimo in 2019 and 2020 . (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

sex offender

Nanaimo man jailed for sexual assault & child luring

May 18, 2022 | 3:27 PM

NANAIMO — A man who used alcohol to prey on young vulnerable victims is off to jail, while he’s been categorized as a registered sex offender for the rest of his life.

Antonio Charlie-Matias, 22, received two years in jail followed by three years probation and numerous long-lasting restrictive conditions after pleading guilty to charges of sexual assault and telecommunicate to lure child under the age of 16.

The Indigenous offender was 19 when he sexually assaulted a 17-year girl on school district property in Nanaimo’s Harewood neighbourhood in June 2019.

The victim was injured and required hospitalization during the alcohol-fueled incident, which occurred after school hours, court was told.

DNA from the victim obtained by a hospital forensic nurse confirmed Charlie-Matias was her attacker.

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During a nearly four-month stretch a year later, the then 20-year-old offender received six child porn images belonging to a 14-year-old girl during social media conversations between the two.

The Crown’s Nick Barber said the offender talked the victim into providing the illegal material knowing full well her age.

“There was an offer by Charlie-Matias to provide alcohol and cigarettes for nude images of this young person,” Barber said during a Wednesday, May 18 sentencing hearing in Nanaimo.

Defence attorney Chris Churchill referenced a pair of pre-sentence reports, including a Gladue report, outlining his client’s troubled background.

Charlie-Matias’ unstable childhood included stints in foster care, while he began consuming alcohol at the age of 12 or 13.

Churchill said Charlie-Matias has cognitive deficits, including a confirmed fetal alcohol syndrome disorder diagnosis.

Guilty pleas by Charlie-Matias are a reflection of remorse and show he is a strong candidate to successfully rehabilitate, according to his lawyer.

“He said he feels a lot less of a person and is sorry for what he’s done.” Churchill said.

Charlie-Matias demonstrated strong post-offence conduct and has remained sober for more than a year, Churchill said.

The offender, who has a young son with another on the way, was supported by family and friends in the gallery.

No victim impact statements were provided to the court.

While judge Justine Saunders accepted the joint submission recommendation, she acknowledged the sentence was on the lenient side given the seriousness of the crimes.

The judge was satisfied with how the sentence was crafted to successfully reintegrate Charlie-Matias back into society.

While briefly addressing the court, Charlie-Matias thanked his family as he welled up in tears seconds prior to being handcuffed and led away to jail.

The provincial jail sentence is expected to see Charlie-Matias locked up at Ford Mountain Correctional Centre in Chilliwack where he’ll undergo programming tailored for sex offenders.

Three years of probation apply once he’s released and includes no-contact orders with the victims and a discretionary curfew.

Charlie-Matias will appear on the National Sex Offender Registry for the rest of his life, allowing police departments nation-wide quick access to his current location.

Twenty years of restrictions are in place, which orders Charlie-Mattias to stay away from public institutions, parks and school grounds where people under 16-years-old could be present.

The order allows Charlie-Matias to be in contact with his children.

Internet and employment restrictions also apply as part of the 20-year order.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes