Victoria, British Columbia – A 23-year-old man, Hayden Chokrev-Evans, has been sentenced to three years and eight months in prison for a violent sexual assault that took place in his CFB Esquimalt dorm room. The assault involved choking, suffocating, and bashing the head of a woman he had met on a dating app.
Chokrev-Evans, who was an employee with the Royal Canadian Navy at the time of his pre-sentence report, received his sentence following a five-day jury trial held at the B.C. Supreme Court. The court determined that the issue at hand was consent, with the credibility of the victim and the accused playing a significant role in the case.
The victim, who remains anonymous due to a publication ban, had met Chokrev-Evans on Tinder, communicating with him through social media and text messages before agreeing to meet in person. As they spent time together, it became apparent that their intentions were not aligned, with Chokrev-Evans misleading the woman into thinking he was interested in a long-term relationship when, in reality, he only sought casual encounters.
On the day of the assault, the woman visited Chokrev-Evans at the Canadian Forces Base in Esquimalt, where the violent attack took place in his dorm room. The victim recounted the harrowing experience in court, detailing how Chokrev-Evans physically assaulted her, strangled her, suffocated her with a pillow, and engaged in non-consensual sexual activity.
Following the assault, the victim sought medical attention, revealing bruising on her neck and forearm, as well as a lump on the back of her head. She reported the incident to the authorities, leading to Chokrev-Evans’ arrest and subsequent trial.
In sentencing Chokrev-Evans, Justice Carla Forth considered both aggravating and mitigating factors, highlighting the violent nature of the assault, the lack of remorse or acknowledgment of guilt on the part of the accused, and the impact of the trauma on the victim’s life. The court also noted that Chokrev-Evans had been in custody since February 21, 2024, and was ultimately discharged from the Canadian Armed Forces in May of the same year.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of consent, respect, and accountability in all interactions, underscoring the devastating consequences of sexual violence and the need for justice to be served in such cases.