A man from Red Pheasant Cree Nation has been sentenced to six years in prison for committing what the judge described as “horrific” actions. Blaisen Nicotine, 27, admitted to inappropriate contact with two minors for sexual purposes and the dissemination of child pornography. Justice Brenda Hildebrandt, during Nicotine’s sentencing at Battleford Court of King’s Bench, condemned the abhorrent nature of the crimes committed against the children.
One incident occurred at a school on Red Pheasant Cree Nation, as reported by the RCMP when Nicotine was initially arrested. The police investigation was triggered after the Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation Unit was alerted by the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children about a video being traded on a social media platform. Nicotine was participating in adult education courses at the school, according to law enforcement officials.
The court heard that Nicotine was recording himself in a bathroom stall when a young student walked in. He then coerced the child to approach him while recording the incident on his phone and even forcefully grabbed the child’s arm during the encounter. Nicotine went on to share the video on social media, circulating it to multiple individuals. The second victim, a 13-year-old who initially misrepresented his age as 18 to Nicotine, engaged in sexual activities with Nicotine over a 10-day period at a private residence.
The identities of the victims have been shielded by a publication ban, and no victim impact statements were presented in court. Crown prosecutor Danie Cillers and defense attorney Daryl Royer jointly proposed a six-year prison term, acknowledging Nicotine’s troubled background of early exposure to violence, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse. Nicotine also suffered abuse as a child from both strangers and family members.
Nicotine expressed remorse in court, stating that he prays daily for forgiveness and deeply regrets his actions. He emphasized his desire to become a better person and seek redemption from both the affected families and his own. The judge approved the six-year sentence, considering it adequate given the circumstances, and commended Nicotine for sparing the victims from testifying through his guilty pleas. Hildebrandt encouraged Nicotine to utilize the rehabilitation programs available to him during his incarceration. Upon factoring in his time served on remand, Nicotine is left with approximately three years and nine months of his sentence to fulfill.
