Eric Tillman granted absolute discharge
Posted Jan 5, 2010 11:10 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Saskatchewan Roughriders GM Eric Tillman has received an absolute discharge after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a teenage girl.
Judge Murray Hinds said Tuesday he believed Tillman was “genuinely remorseful” and his behaviour was fuelled by a bad combination of non-prescription drugs he took for a sore back.
The discharge means Tillman is considered guilty of the offence, but will not have a criminal record, and will not have to meet any conditions to keep his record clear.
Tillman admitted Monday that he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl who was babysitting his two children in the summer of 2008.
Court heard he came up behind the teen, put his thumbs through her belt loops and pulled her body against his, although Tillman has said he doesn’t remember anything.
The defence said he wasn’t thinking clearly because he had taken a double dose of sleep aids and pain medication for a sore back.
The Crown did not oppose a discharge of some kind.
The Riders and Tillman have agreed that he won’t resume any day-to-day responsibilities with the CFL club for now.
