Montrealers protest against man guilty of sexual abuse ‘inadequate’ sentence
Posted July 10, 2022 2:02 pm.
Hundreds of people rallied in front of Montreal’s courthouse Sunday to denounce a light sentence imposed on a man who pleaded guilty to sexual assault and voyeurism.
Protest co-organizer Alexandra Dupuy says the decision to grant a conditional discharge in a sexual assault case shows how inadequate the justice system is when it comes to handling such cases.
Judge Matthieu Poliquin in Trois-Rivieres, Que., opted last week to give Simon Houle probation and a conditional discharge, partly because a conviction would make it hard for Houle to travel as an engineer.
Poliquin said the 2019 assault happened “all in all quickly,” adding that Houle, who pleaded guilty last year, had taken therapy seriously and sincerely regretted his actions.
Dupuy says while most people are criticizing Poliquin, it’s the legal process that ought to be questioned and revisited.
Quebec’s Crown prosecutors office said it will appeal the judge’s sentencing decision.
