Montreal elementary school teacher sentenced to 8 years for abusing young girls
Posted August 15, 2023 4:28 pm.
A former Montreal elementary school teacher was sentenced to eight years behind bars Tuesday for sexually abusing five young girls.
Dominic Blanchette, 29, pleaded guilty in March on eight counts, including sexual interference, possession of child pornography, child luring and sexual exploitation.
He pleaded guilty to sexual interference of four girls, and was convicted of sexual interference involving a fifth victim.
The abuses were committed between September 2017 and May 2022. Blanchette’s victims were as young as 10 years old.
Blanchette was a teacher and basketball coach at two different schools in Montreal North.
In sentencing, the Quebec court judge said Blanchette was in a position of authority and trust when he abused the victims and was aware of the consequences of the abuse.
Initially, Blanchette was hit with several charges involving an 11-year-old girl in incidents that began in December 2021 and ended with his arrest after her mother complained to police.
At the time, Blanchette apologized and told a Montreal police investigator that no other victims would come forward, but police discovered several other victims once his arrest was publicized.
Court documents say that during the police investigation, numerous witnesses said Blanchette had close relationships with his female students and would take them out to lunch or spend time alone after school with them.
—With files from The Canadian Press
