Already accused of sexual crimes against a teenager, the former member of the Blizzard coaching staff of Séminaire-Saint-François Benjamin-Alexandre Gauthier appeared again Thursday for new allegations from a second complainant .
• Also read: Saint-François Seminary Blizzard coach accused of sex crimes
Gauthier was formally charged with sexual assault and luring a person under the age of 18 on Thursday morning. Charges of production and possession of child pornography are also added to this new file.
The facts alleged against the man who notably acted as video coach and head of statistics for the M18-AAA club of Séminaire Saint-François allegedly occurred “between the summer of 2022 and the winter of 2023”.
The identity of the alleged victim is protected by a publication ban.
At large during the proceedings
The 29-year-old accused was first accused last July. Charges of sexual contact and incitement, as well as luring, had been brought and targeted a single alleged victim, a teenager.
The prosecutor in the case, Me Michel Bérubé, had already indicated at that time that Benjamin-Alexandre Gauthier could have caused other victims. It is not excluded that other charges will be filed later despite the opening of a new file on Thursday.
The accused was released the day after his first appearance last July. He is subject to serious conditions, including not using the Internet except at work or under supervision. He also cannot be in the presence of minors or less than 200 meters from the complainants in the file.
Gauthier also had to return to live with his mother, on the North Shore, for the duration of the procedures. The judge who released him had also reminded him of how lucky he was to be able to count on his mother, advising him to “live up to that trust”.
Broken employment relationship
Benjamin-Alexandre Gauthier saw his employment relationship with the Blizzard organization severed as soon as the charges were filed in the summer. The club’s governor, Alain Parenteau, indicated to the Journal that management had collaborated in the investigation opened by the SPVQ.
The Séminaire Saint-François had for its part clarified that the employment link of the accused was with the structure of Blizzard hockey and that he had no link with the educational establishment.
Benjamin-Alexandre Gauthier’s cases will return to court on January 29.
Do you have any information to share with us about this story?
Write to us at or call us directly at 1 800-63SCOOP.
