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Graham James has prison sentence increased to five years

Graham James

Former hockey coach Graham James arrives at court on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 in Winnipeg for sentencing for repeatedly molesting two of his young players, former NHL star Theo Fleury and his cousin, Todd Holt. James pleaded guilty in December to sexually abusing them when they played for him in the Western Hockey League in the 1980s and ‘90s. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, John Woods)

AP

Former junior hockey coach Graham James has had his two-year prison sentence increased to five years for sexually assaulting two of his former teenage players, one of which was ex-NHL star Theoren Fleury.

Per the Winnipeg Free Press, the Manitoba Court of Appeal ruled today that the initial punishment was unfit and that there were errors made by the sentencing judge that needed to be overturned.

The original ruling, made in March of last year, was widely criticized by the Canadian public as too lenient. James’ other victim, Todd Holt, called it “nothing short of a national travesty.”

James was given a 3.5-year prison sentence (he served 18 months) in 1997 for sexually assaulting two other former players.