Teacher pleads guilty to sexually touching minors
In the course During the investigation, the police learned that Dominic Blanchette had very close ties with his female students, with whom he communicated on various digital platforms.
A teacher from ;a Montreal elementary school pleaded guilty Tuesday to multiple sex crimes involving five young girls.
Dominic Blanchette pleaded guilty to eight counts, including sexual interference, possession of child pornography, child luring and sexual exploitation. His crimes were committed between September 2017 and May 2022, when he was arrested.
Court documents indicate that the 28-year-old Mr. Blanchette, who taught in the borough of Montreal North, used his influence as a basketball teacher and coach to coax and sexually exploit a total of five fifth and sixth grade girls.
The case came to light when the mother of one of the victims discovered, on her daughter's electronic tablet, an intimate conversation on Snapchat in which the defendant described a sexual fantasy involving him, the young victim and one of his classmates. Intimate photos of a naked adult male photographing himself in a bathroom mirror were also found in the electronic device.
The lady then recognized her daughter's teacher, whom she had met a few times during parent meetings at school. She later confronted Mr. Blanchette, who initially denied having an affair with his student or having a Snapchat account. He allegedly attributed the account of the fantasy to another student and claimed that his selfie was stolen by the student, which deterred the mother from filing a complaint.
Dominic Blanchette pleaded guilty to eight counts, including sexual interference, possession of child pornography, child luring and exploitation sexual.
In the following days, Mr. Blanchette and his student still continued their sexual exchanges, which ended up in the text messaging of one of the mother's cell phones. This time the lady reported the teacher to the police.
During his arrest and interrogation in May 2022, Dominic Blanchette acknowledged certain facts and expressed remorse. He took full responsibility for the relationship with the victim and expressed fears about the consequences of his actions, both for himself and for the girl. However, he indicated that he only had one victim.
During their investigation, the police learned that Dominic Blanchette had very close ties with his female students, with whom he communicated on various digital platforms.
These exchanges, initially harmless, ended up taking a romantic and sexual turn. Intimate photo exchanges were made on both sides.
The investigation also revealed that the professor was taking several of his proteges dining out at dinner time, taking them out of daycare at the end of the day and spending time alone with them.
Several victims testified to having been touched on the breasts, buttocks or neck by Dominic Blanchette. Many episodes took place during a camp organized by the school, during which Mr. Blanchette was a supervisor.
To one of his victims who tried to distancing herself from him, the defendant said she would have his death on her conscience.
In June 2022, after a second wave of complaints, the x27;accused told the investigator that he had trouble sleeping thinking about what he had done. He said he has a plan to find which prison has the best therapy.
The case will return to court next July for a sentencing hearing, during which his victims will testify.
The prosecution, represented by Me Annabelle Sheppard, requested that in the meantime, a probation officer produce a face-to-face report on the accused as well as #x27;a sexological evaluation.
The accused is represented by Me Laurence Juillet.
