Former HGTV pilot host who molested daughter's 10-year-old best friend during sleepover sentenced to 3 years in prison
OLD LYME, CONNECTICUT: The former host of an HGTV home remodeling show has been sentenced to three years in prison for molesting his daughter's best friend when she was 10-years-old.
MEA WorldWide (MEAWW) previously reported that Christopher Dionne, 37, who had appeared alongside his identical twin brother for a pilot episode of HGTV's 'Family Flip' in 2015, was convicted on charges of risk of injury to a minor and fourth degree sexual assault this past October.
The charges stemmed from a November 26, 2017, incident when the now 12-year-old victim came over to his home at 4 Village Lane for a sleepover, which she used to do regularly as she was best friends with his daughter and on the same soccer team as her.
The victim said when she was sleeping on her belly around 1.30 am, Dionne placed his hand on her buttocks under her pajamas, felt her up under her bra, and jiggled her chest before taking a photo of her on his cell phone.
She said he molested her twice that night, several hours apart, even as his 14-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter were sleeping in the same room. She added that during the assault, he asked her if she was a "big girl or little girl" and whether she wanted to see his genitals.
On Wednesday, December 11, Judge Barbara Bailey Jongbloed at the New London Superior Court sentenced him to seven years in prison, suspended after three years served, the Day of New London reported.
After his prison sentence, he was ordered to 10 years of sexual offender probation. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to a standing criminal protective order that prohibits him from contacting the victim for the rest of his life.
While the victim did not attend the hearing, her mother spoke at length about the cost to the girl and their family for reporting the crime to the authorities. She said her daughter told her repeatedly: "Mom, this ruined everybody's life. I should have never told. I just wanted to be a normal kid."
When asked if he wanted to speak at his hearing, Dionne declined and said he did not want to address or disparage anyone but thanked his friends and family for their support.
The 37-year-old, who was released on a $1,00,000 bond after his conviction in October, has continued to maintain his innocence and is expected to appeal his convictions for fourth-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor. He is also facing a civil suit from the victim's family.