Punches in the face, threats at the point of a gun, fractured ribs: even if they left the yoke of a violent pimp for more than 15 years, two victims of sexual exploitation are still afraid of him and fear his release from prison.
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“I am still extremely afraid of a repeat offense against me, of being subjected to his violence again,” said Marie-Michelle Desmeules, 43, a victim of Josué Jean.
The woman who had already had the publication ban protecting her identity lifted begged the Parole Board of Canada to keep the pimp behind bars.
The man, now 46 years old, is eligible for day parole.
He was sentenced in 2019 to eight years of detention for having kept M under his control.me Desmeules as well as another woman who cannot be named, from 2002 to 2009. The other victim was barely 18 years old when the abuse began.
Marie-Michelle Desmeules, one of Josué Jean’s victims.
Photo Chantal Poirier
“I am certain that he will want revenge because he mentioned to me several times that if I denounced him, he would kill me, and my family too,” she testified, also denouncing the fact that he never recognized the harm done to his victims.
Does not recognize the facts
Josué Jean even appeared irritated at the hearing when questioned about the crimes for which he was convicted.
“[Les faits]I do not recognize them, whether today, in five years or in 10 years,” he said.
According to him, his victims were willing to prostitute themselves and share the money to pay the bills.
Still, the crimes described during his trial were disturbing. Joshua John subjected them to violent and degrading abuse, beating and threatening them. One already had a gun pointed at her head, was burned by a cigarette, pushed down the stairs. The other was thrown out of a car and already had to go to hospital after being hit. Both had to have his name tattooed on their bodies.
But he assures him that he has never raised his hand against a woman.
“Why were you sentenced to detention if you did nothing?” asked one of the commissioners.
Josué Jean then claimed a miscarriage of justice.
If he has empathy for victims of sexual exploitation in general, he does not have any for those who sent him to prison.
Second attempt
The man is on his second attempt to obtain semi-release. This was refused to him in 2022, considering his lack of remorse.
According to him, there is no chance that he will reoffend since even at the time of his arrest, almost 10 years ago, he had already moved away from his criminal lifestyle. He is also of the opinion that the usual more restrictive conditions concerning his communications, his finances or his associates upon his release from detention are not necessary.
However, if his prison career has always been spotless, he recently got into trouble for a smuggling case, probably involving deliveries by drone. It was allegedly recorded in calls from the detention center. Joshua John denied doing anything illegal.
His statutory release, provided for by law at two-thirds of his sentence, is scheduled for next fall.
Commissioners Micheline Beaubien and Evans Bédard took the decision under advisement.
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