The facts date back to July 16, 2023 when the accused and the victim, work colleagues, arranged to meet in Baie-Saint-Paul. The victim went there with a friend.
According to the reading of the facts, the accused, Lou Simard, stuck the victim from behind, wrapping his arms around her body. He started to rub himself, but the victim moved away and said “no.”
Lou Simard continued by touching the thighs with one hand and with his left hand, he performed gestures over the victim’s clothes at the level of her genitals. Still according to the reading of the facts by Ms. Rosalie Cavanagh, Crown prosecutor, this episode lasted between 5 and 10 seconds.
However, the actions did not stop there since the accused put one of his hands under the young woman’s sweater, attempted a maneuver and grabbed her breast. The young man continued to rub against the victim. The latter heard moaning noises and moved her head to the side. The victim began to feel the defendant’s penis harden.
Lou Simard touched the young woman’s buttocks over her clothes and finally left the scene. The events lasted between 30 and 35 minutes, according to Mr. Cavanagh.
Another episode occurred a few days earlier at the workplace of the two individuals. The victim dropped a utensil and while bending down to pick it up, the accused touched her right buttock with his hand. The victim described the gesture as “a flattering movement”.
The accused’s lawyer, Me Julie Bégin, argued that this event had no consequences on the relationship between the two work colleagues. “The two had a good relationship at work”she said. The lawyer agrees that the young man and the young woman did not see each other again after July 16, 2023.
Me Bégin argued that his client had respected his conditions, that he had admitted the facts and that he had no criminal record.
Lou Simard had already entered a guilty plea to the charge of sexual interference. Judge Mario Tremblay found that the accused had “touched for sexual gratification”. The sexual assault charge was withdrawn.
A pre-sentence report was requested. The case will return to the courthouse on May 6.
Photo : archives
Related News :