Stony Mountain inmate, 80, dies
A Stony Mountain Institution inmate died of apparent natural causes while in custody Saturday, the Correctional Service of Canada said.
Gordon Kornelson, 80, was sentenced to four years on May 5.
The Carillon newspaper in Steinbach reported in April that he had pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a relative for eight years starting when she was about four years old, between Jan. 1, 2012 and Jan. 31, 2020.
The abuse ended when the COVID-19 pandemic prevented her visits to Kornelson's home, the Carillon reported.
The girl's mother reported the crime in June 2022 after her daughter told her what had happened.
Judge Kael McKenzie granted the victim's request that there be no publication ban in the case and called the sentence low.
The defence, pointing to Kornelson's declining health, had asked for his sentence to be served under house arrest.
Kornelson worked as a loans manager at Steinbach Credit Union for 29 years until 1995, court documents stated, and then worked as an accountant. He served on the board of the Steinbach Mennonite Central Committee Thrift Shop from 1974 to 2019.
An online obituary stated Kornelson was formerly a longtime Hanover School Division trustee and that he died in a Winnipeg hospital.
DAVE BAXTER / CARILLON FILES
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Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Jon Hallford, owner of Return to Nature Funeral Home, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud last year and had faced a maximum of 20 years in prison. Federal prosecutors are seeking a 15-year sentence and Hallford's attorney asked for 10 years. In court before the sentencing, Hallford told the judge that he opened Return to Nature to make a positive impact in people's lives, 'then everything got completely out of control, especially me.' 'I am so deeply sorry for my actions,' he said. 'I still hate myself for what I've done.' 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