Ottawa Man Appeals Sexual Abuse Conviction amid Claims of Judicial Oversight

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Richard Sticklee, an Ottawa-based individual formerly of Barrie, has launched an appeal against his conviction for sexually abusing his stepdaughter two decades ago. This comes shortly after Sticklee was handed a six-year prison term for the same.

While it is his appeal process that saw him granted bail, his legal representation, Howard L. Krongold has identified certain alleged oversights in Justice Catriona Verner’s assessment of the evidence. Krongold believes that these oversights could have lifted uncertainties regarding the accuser’s credibility, thereby making a more robust case for the Crown against his client.


The primary objective of the appeal is to exonerate Sticklee. If this proves impossible, then the hope is for a fresh trial. Back in January, the court had determined Sticklee as guilty for sexually assaulting six times, his young stepdaughter, Trinity Waide, dating back 20 years.

Today, aged 28, Waide was 4-10 years old at the time of the abuse. She waited till she was about 25 years old to step forward with her accusations, implying Sticklee sexually touched her. Speaking to the press, Waide admitted the hesitation in sharing her traumas, citing the difficulty of reliving her past but stressed the importance of speaking up at the right time.

Waide, in her victim’s impact statement, addressed Sticklee directly, expressing her sense of betrayal at the hands of someone she called ‘Dad’.

Sticklee, currently in his 50s and battling cancer and a tumour, argued his innocence and stated his intent to rigorously contest the appeal through his attorney who communicated this to the media.

Following Sticklee’s conviction, Waide applied successfully to lift the ban protecting her identity as a sexual abuse survivor. Believing that Sticklee was arrested, knowing no other child will endure the same behaviour, she welcomed the verdict.

There is currently a year and a half wait for a case at the Ontario Court of Appeal. A hearing is expected within this timeframe to determine the merit of Sticklee’s appeal.