A man receives 18 months in prison for sexual contact with a minor in Lamèque

The alleged events took place near Lamèque in August 2020.

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Bathurst courthouse.

• Réal Fradette (View profile)Réal Fradette

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Benoît Chiasson, from Saint- Irénée, near Tracadie, faces the next 18 months in prison after admitting his guilt to a charge of sexual contact with a person under the age of 16.

The events of which the 59-year-old man is accused took place in August 2020, in the Chiasson Office sector, near Lamèque, in the Acadian Peninsula.

Judge Éric Sonier, of the Provincial Court, imposed his sentence Friday in Bathurst. He accepted the sentence recommendation proposed by Me Pierre Gionet, of the Crown.

In addition to the 18 months in prison, the defendant is given a 12-month probation period and will be placed on the sex offender registry for a period of 20 years.

Mr. Serge Robichaud, of the defense, had suggested to the judge a sentence of 12 to 15 months.

Judge Éric Sonier taking into account aggravating factors, including Benoît Chiasson's position of authority and the age of the victim.

In return, he recognized that the accused, by pleading guilty, avoided a trial and forced the victim to relive these events by testifying.

According to the facts presented to the court, Benoît Chiasson used his position of authority to carry out various touching of a sexual nature on his victim, aged under 16 at the time of the incident, during an evening in his vehicle Winnebago type.

Both people involved had consumed alcohol before the events.

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