Former Sherbrooke scout instructor Raphaël Bélisle, guilty of sexual assault and sexual contact with three teenage girls, receives a three-year prison sentence. Judge Serge Champoux rendered his decision this morning at the Sherbrooke courthouse.
• Also read: Sexual assault in Sherbrooke: the Crown wants former scout instructor Raphaël Bélisle in prison for three years
• Also read: Former scout leader Raphaël Bélisle guilty of sexual assault and touching
The crimes for which the accused was found guilty occurred at his condo in Sherbrooke, but also during a group trip to Florida and then in a camp near a lake during activities not sanctioned by Scouts Canada. Mr. Bélisle took the opportunity to spoon sleep with two teenage girls and on other occasions, took them to sit them down or sleep on him.
Judge Champoux noted in particular “lackluster” pre-sentence and sexological reports and a “complete absence of empathy for the victims” as aggravating factors.
Remember that Raphaël Bélisle, 27, was not believed by the judge at his trial even though he proclaimed his innocence and had denied outright having carried out the actions dating back to the summer of 2022.
During sentencing submissions last October, the Crown argued for a three-year prison sentence.
In defense, Me Nicolas Lemyre-Cossette had instead requested a prison sentence of nine months.
