Sask. gov't, care home must be held accountable for years of sexual abuse: victim's brother

Rick Boguski is demanding answers and restitution on behalf of his brother, Darryl, who was sexually abused for years in a Saskatchewan group home for adults living with severe disabilities.

Darryl, 62, requires one-on-one care, as he is blind and has cerebral palsy, autism and severe epilepsy. 

Last year, Brent Gabona — a man who was responsible for Darryl's care — was arrested and charged with multiple counts of sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a person with a disability. Gabona's five victims, including Darryl, were residents at the Shepherds Villa care home in Hepburn, Sask., and the crimes span a 17-year period. 

Gabona pleaded guilty last week — appearing in court by telephone.

Rick has little faith that the criminal justice system will provide the accountability he needs, so after Gabona's hearing Rick and Darryl went to the Court of King's Bench in Saskatoon to file a civil lawsuit. 

"Without a trial, there are no answers to our many, many questions," Rick said. 

"Daryl led a torturous life, and amazingly has a strong will to live in spite of everything that he endured, and so I owe it to Darryl — the defendants owe it to Darryl to provide some sort of accountability and restitution."

The defendants include Gabona, his mother — who supervised staff at the group home — the Saskatchewan government and the government-funded care home. 

Rich said his brother has extensive psychological damage after suffering years of horrific sexual abuse. 

Before Darryl moved to Shepherd's Villa, he lived at Valley View Centre in Moose Jaw. Rick said his brother seemed calm and happy there, even though it was a large institutional setting.

But Darryl was moved to Shepherd's Villa in 1990. The community was closer to Darryl's parents, who lived in Saskatoon, and described as a facility that had trained staff caring for a maximum of six residents.

Gabona worked at the facility from 1992 to 2009. The claim says that Darryl was utterly dependent on him and other staff. 

Rick says Gabona violently sexually assaulted and abused Darryl for years and concealed the abuse. 

The lawsuit says Darryl's behaviour deteriorated while he was at Shepherd's Villa, and that as this was happening staff limited Darryl's contact with his own family.