Ex-HGTV host Christopher Dionne jailed for groping daughter’s friend, 10, during sleepover
A TV presenter has been jailed for three years after molesting his daughter’s friend while she slept over.
Christopher Dionne, who hosted “Family Flip” , groped the 10-year-old and told her “not to tell her mum”.
The 37-year-old has maintained his innocence and is expected to appeal his conviction for fourth-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor.
Following his prison sentence, he will serve 10 years of probation and be added to the sex offenders register, a judge ruled today.
The girl, who is now 14, testified during his trial that she was best friends with his daughter and was sleeping over at their house when she was assaulted in 2017.
Don’t tell your mom, I’ll go to jail and [my daughter] won’t have a daddy.
The victim said Dionne molested her twice while his two children, then a 10-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son slept in the same room.
She said that he asked her to touch him while he assaulted her.
Dionne then told his victim: “Don’t tell your mom, I’ll go to jail and [my daughter] won’t have a daddy.”
In court, the victim’s mum read an emotional statement.
She asked: “How much is a little girl worth? How much is a family worth?”
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The mom recalled how her daughter received hateful messages on social media after coming forward and kept saying: “Mom, this ruined everybody’s life. I should have never told. I just wanted to be a normal kid.”
The state presented evidence that Dionne’s DNA was found in the inner waistband of the little girl’s pyjama bottoms.
Dionne claimed when he got home the victim was awake and put her arms around him.
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