Strapp, 39, was convicted in February and sentenced Tuesday in a district court in St. Louis. John’s – four years for sexual exploitation and two years for sexual assault. The penalties will be imposed at the same time. Newfoundland Royal Police have charged Strapp, a Harbor Main teacher, with a former schoolgirl who contacted police in 2019. Her identity is covered by a ban on publication Strapp will also be registered as a sex offender for 20 years, provide a DNA sample to a national database and be banned from possessing a firearm for 10 years. He is also forbidden to communicate with the former student. Strapp is handcuffed after being convicted in St John’s District Court. (Lukas Wall / CBC) The Crown requested five years in prison, while the defense had recommended 22 to 24 months, less per day. However, the Crown said it was pleased with Judge Phyllis Harris’ decision. Harris told the court that Strap was in a position of power and took advantage of that position for his own gain. He asserted that his confession had been obtained through torture and that his confession had been obtained through torture. Following the sentencing, the complainant was emotional and made a brief but strong comment on the decision. “Karma is a bitch,” he said.
The sexual intercourse started when the complainant was 16 years old
The woman testified during the trial that a sexual relationship between her and Strapp started when she was 16 years old and while he was her teacher and coach in many sports. He told the court that the two had about 100 sexual interactions. It happened while he was at school, at Strapp’s house, in his children’s rooms and in his car, he said. The woman also told the court that while in 11th and 12th grade, she and Strapp exchanged sex photos and videos using Snapchat, an app that deletes messages as soon as they are read by the recipient. During Strapp’s trial, the court heard that he was very involved in the woman’s life and that he valued him very much. He visited his home regularly, had a close relationship with his wife and children, and participated in family events. Strapp testified that he was very attached to the woman and that she was like his little sister, but denied that he had ever had sexual intercourse. Police found about 8,000 text messages between the two, eight of which were sexually explicit. Strapp testified that the sexual messages were mere jokes and told her to delete them, which she did. The messages were later retrieved from the woman’s laptop. She testified that as her coach, Strapp implemented a rigorous training and diet plan that she said was a way to control and manipulate her for his own sexual gain. He claimed that it was just a part of the job required to become a top athlete. Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
