Roger Allen jailed for sexual assault

Former N.W.T. Justice minister Roger Allen has been sentenced to four months in jail for sexual assault.

The former MLA for Inuvik Twin Lakes showed no emotion as the sentence was delivered in a Yellowknife courtroom earlier Thursday.

Allen was convicted Wednesday, after the court accepted evidence that he forcibly fondled a legislative assembly worker during a government trip to Inuvik last spring.

The woman said she pleaded with him to stop, but he continued to kiss, grope and fondle her on the hotel room bed.

Allen testified the woman agreed to his advances.

Judge Michel Bourassa said the worst thing about the crime was the abuse of authority it involved.

Allen handed over a few possessions to friends before being escorted from the courtroom by police.

Former Olympian

It's been a rapid rise and fall for Roger Allen.

First elected to the legislature in December 1999, he was voted into cabinet a month later. Premier Stephen Kakfwi chose him to be minister for the Housing Corporation, Public Utilities Board and Youth. He later served as minister for Municipal and Community Affairs.

Two years ago he took a run at becoming premier, but abandoned the attempt at the eleventh hour. Joe Handley was voted as premier.

He has also been the mayor of Aklavik, and sat on Inuvik city council. In 1996 he completed the Legal Studies/Commercial Law course from the Athabasca University.

Before his political career began, the 52 year old was known as one of the country's top cross-country skiers. He competed for Canada at several international venues, culminating with the 1972 Olympics in Sapporo, Japan.