During the sentencing hearing in Saskatoon, a Crown prosecutor argued that Duff Friesen, the former principal of Christian Centre Academy, should be imprisoned for an assault on a student that occurred twenty years ago.
On the other hand, Friesen’s defense lawyer, Daniel Mol, advocated for a conditional discharge, which would entail no jail time and no criminal record as long as Friesen complies with the conditions upon release.
In May, a Saskatoon Court of King’s Bench jury convicted Friesen of one assault charge and acquitted him of three others. The lawyers presented their sentencing recommendations on Friday.
The Crown prosecutor, Sheryl Fillo, pushed for an eight-month jail sentence followed by two years of probation for Friesen.
Judge Natasha Crooks postponed her decision until December 18.
Due to a court-ordered ban on disclosing any trial evidence, including victim impact statements for sentencing, because Friesen faces a second jury trial in September 2026.
Friesen is also facing seven assault charges relating to his tenure at Christian Centre Academy, which was later renamed Legacy Christian Academy and then Valour Academy. The institution has close ties to Mile Two Church, now known as Encounter Church.
He is one of three individuals associated with the school facing assault charges or convictions. Former students alleged that some school administrators from the early 2000s used a wooden paddle to physically discipline them.
John Olubobokun, a former school director, was convicted of physically assaulting students with a wooden paddle and recently received an 18-month conditional sentence to be served in the community.
Olubobokun is scheduled for a second trial starting on December 2, facing two assault charges linked to his time at the school.
Ken Schultz, a former director and vice-principal at the academy, is charged with assault with a weapon for allegedly using a wooden paddle to hit students in the early 2000s. He also faces a sexual assault charge.
Schulz has two trials scheduled, one in May 2026 and the other in June 2026.
In July, a Saskatoon judge dismissed a $25-million class action lawsuit filed in 2022 against Legacy Christian Academy and Mile Two Church, citing the plaintiffs’ failure to disclose previous settlement agreements with three defendants named in the suit.