A former teacher and hockey coach who admitted to having sexual contact with a minor will be sentenced in the new year.
Robert John Paolinelli, 42, was set to be sentenced in Stony Plain Provincial Court last Thursday for sexual exploitation, a charge he pleaded guilty to in mid- December. However, the sentencing was adjourned earlier this month to Feb. 14.
During his two-day hearing in June, Paolinelli told the court he offered sexual favours to a 16-year-old hockey player who was billeting with him at the time.
After consuming alcohol with two other hockey players on the night of Oct. 4, 2011, the pair went into Paolinelli’s bedroom to discuss the sport.
He told the court he offered to perform oral sex on the minor, while offering to let the boy have intercourse with him.
Prior to the offence, he was a teacher at Spruce Grove’s St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School and was involved with St. Albert minor hockey. He was suspended from the organization when the charges came to light last year.
Sexual exploitation charges are laid against individuals in a position of trust who violate that trust and carry a minimum sentence of 45 days in jail if found guilty.
