Manitoba school worker expresses ‘deep regret’ for sexual relationship with boy

Kristina Richelle Lies (Facebook)

FLIN FLON, Manitoba — A former support staffer at a northern Manitoba school has been sentenced to 90 days in jail after admitting to a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old boy.

Kristina Richelle Lies, who is 36, was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty to sexual interference.

The Crown dropped charges of sexual assault and sexual exploitation charges.

Prosecutor Todd Rambow says Lies was a parent-child co-ordinator at a school in Flin Flon when she started a relationship with the boy around February 2013.

Thousands of sex-related text messages and some personal encounters followed before another teen in the community contacted the RCMP.

The woman, who can serve her sentence on weekends, was suspended and fired after her arrest in August of the same year.

Lies worked on contract, but was not a classroom teacher. Her duties included working in the school’s child and family room and helping coach the school’s basketball team. The Crown says none of the offences occurred on school property.

The woman offered a tearful apology during a court appearance in The Pas Thursday.

“I want you to know of my deep regret. It was never my intention to end up in a situation where this hurt would be caused. It’s been a lesson of great teaching to me.”

The boy’s mother told court during a victim impact statement that her son went from being happy and bright to angry and withdrawn.

“My son’s first sexual experience should have been with a peer his age. I trusted you. I feel so awful and guilty because I trusted you.”

Defence lawyer Josh Weinstein said his client has suffered greatly due largely to the media exposure and gossip about the case. He submitted 15 glowing letters of reference and support from her family and friends.

“She absolutely has to live with the consequences in regard to her conduct,” he said.