Former Saskatoon Christian school director gets 18-month conditional sentence for assaults on students

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/former-saskatoon-christian-school-director-john-olubobokun-gets-18-months-conditional-for-student-assaults-9.6986280

The former director of a Saskatoon private Christian school who was found guilty of assaulting students with a wooden paddle will serve an 18-month jail sentence in the community.

John Olubobokun, 62, was sentenced on Thursday in Saskatoon provincial court.

A conditional sentence means he will serve his jail time while living in the community under supervision and conditions.

Using a paddle to hit children is ultimately “demeaning and harmful,” Judge Lisa Watson remarked during the sentencing hearing. She said she would allow him to serve the sentence at home because his risk to reoffend is low and he won’t be a danger to others.

In July, Olubobokun was found guilty of nine counts of assault with a weapon for using a wooden paddle to hit students when he was the director at Christian Centre Academy for four years starting in 2003.

Former students said they were often accused of misbehaving and called into the director’s office, where he told them to bend over a desk or chair and struck them multiple times with a wooden paddle.

Some students testified they were left bruised. One said the paddle broke during the punishment.

“Obviously, we would have loved to see him serve some time behind bars, but it is what it is,” said Caitlin Erikson, standing with other victims outside court.

“Having the judge point out how serious these offences were — and are — was very validating. I think it speaks volumes that he didn’t plead guilty. He had absolutely no remorse.”

Olubobokun’s lawyer, Ron Piche, said the sentence is too harsh and questioned whether his client is being scapegoated.

“This was school policy and the parents were fully aware of scriptural discipline that was being applied at that school,” Piche said outside court, with Olubobokun standing beside him. “Yet my client seems to be holding the bag on this.”

Watson said she considered several aggravating factors in Olubobokun’s sentencing, including the victims’ ages (all under 18), his position of trust and authority and the “significant impact” the assaults had on victims.

For mitigating factors, Watson cited Olubobokun’s previously clean criminal record, his compliance with release conditions since his arrest and contributions to the community.

The school was later renamed Legacy Christian Academy, then Valour Academy. It is closely associated with Mile Two Church, now called Encounter Church.

During sentencing arguments in October, the Crown argued for two years in custody followed by three years of probation.

“These were such significant traumatic events that they were seared into the memories of the students,” Crown prosecutor Sheryl Fillo said after the sentencing.

“We are very grateful that they did come to court and tell everything that happened to them so that the court was able to hear about … what went on and the abuse that these children suffered.”

The defence sought a conditional discharge with 18 months of probation, which would have meant Olubobokun’s convictions would not be registered if he successfully finished probation.

The conditional sentence requires him to stay in Saskatchewan unless he has written approval to leave, live at an approved residence, adhere to a 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew and complete 150 hours of community service.

Watson said she did not agree with the Crown that a probation order was necessary.

Piche said appeal documents are drafted, but Olubobokun hasn’t decided if he will appeal the sentence.

Olubobokun is heading to trial again in December. He is charged with two counts of assault connected to his time at the school.

More trials ahead

Two other men connected to the school are still awaiting trial.

The second trial for former Legacy Christian Academy principal Duff Friesen is scheduled for September 2026. Friesen is accused of hitting students with a wooden paddle and faces seven counts of assault.

This will be Friesen’s second trial connected to his time at the private Christian school. The first trial ended in May with the jury acquitting him of three of four assault charges.

There is a court-ordered ban on publishing any evidence from the first trial before Friesen’s second jury trial.

Ken Schultz, a former director and vice-principal at Christian Centre Academy, is charged with assault with a weapon for allegedly striking students with a wooden paddle in the early 2000s. He is also charged with sexual assault.

Schulz now has two trials scheduled, one in May 2026 and one in June 2026.

In July, a Saskatoon judge dismissed a $25-million class action lawsuit launched in 2022 against Legacy Christian Academy and Mile Two Church. A Court of King’s Bench judge said the plaintiffs failed to disclose previous settlement agreements with three defendants named in the suit.