Sex | Sex Offender Sentenced To 15 More Months

A repeat sex offender has been sentenced to 15 months behind bars for molesting two young girls as they sat with him and played video games.

Justice Robert Cummings recently sentenced Michael Arthur Tummey to a total of 48 months, but subtracted 22 months for pre-sentence custody, leaving 15 months to serve.

Tummey was convicted of two counts of sexual interference at the end of a trial in May 2010.

Sentencing was delayed to allow preparation of a pre-sentence report and to gather other sentencing evidence.

Tummey was found guilty of molesting two young girls at his Brandon apartment in March 2009.

The sisters -- one eight years old and the other nine years old at the time -- lived in the same apartment block as Tummey.

The girls testified that they were groped as they sat with Tummey in a rocking chair and played video games.

The older girl also testified that Tummey once climbed into bed with her and molested her during a visit to her apartment.

It wasn't Tummey's first sex offence, and the girls' mother said she had no idea that her family had moved into the same building as a sex offender.

In 1986 in Atikokan, Ont., Tummey received a suspended sentence and probation for sexual assault.

Then, in Brandon in January 2005, he was sentenced to 12 months in jail for sexual interference for a crime that involved another young victim, plus another six months for violating probation orders.

In June 2008, he was sentenced to six months in jail for breaking probation orders by having contact with children.

Tummey, 46, has been diagnosed with a learning disorder, pedophilia and an impulse control disorder which may stem from fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

He's assessed as a high risk to re-offend and corrections recommends he be placed under a high level of supervision when he's released.

His sentence for his latest offences will be followed by three years probation which includes an order to take sex offender counselling.

He's also on a 15-year order banning him from being in public places where children tend to gather, such as parks and swimming pools.

He also can't hold a job or volunteer position that gives him authority over children.

Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition May 30, 2011 A2