“Psychological manipulation”: security guard sleeps with vulnerable 17-year-old

A 31-year-old man was sent to prison for 16 months after taking advantage of his position as a security guard at a resource for young people in difficulty to sleep with a 17-year-old girl.

“The context of the attack reveals a very significant abuse of authority and trust,” underlines judge Matthieu Poliquin, in a recent judgment at the La Tuque courthouse.

The magistrate sealed the fate of Félipe Biroté Boivin, who demonstrated “psychological manipulation” through “deliberate, premeditated and repeated conduct, in particular by the granting of privileges”.

The night watchman and security guard at a resource for young people in difficulty committed his crimes in August 2022.

The victim, a minor whose identity is protected by the court, was housed there “for various personal problems, in particular a problem relating to seduction”, relates the judicial decision.

Declaration of love

In such a context, a directive, of which Biroté Boivin was aware, warned employees to avoid being alone with the teenager.

The guard nevertheless spent time with her on two occasions, after her bedtime, allowing her to smoke and play cards, among other things.

A “game of seduction” thus took place between them, to the point where they mutually declared their love for each other via text messages.

This tension culminated during a night shift by Félipe Biroté Boivin. The duo had unprotected sex in a bathroom at the accommodation facility.

It didn’t take long for the accused to confess everything to his partner and colleague, who was on maternity leave at the time. An internal investigation was launched and Félipe Biroté Boivin was fired.

State protection

The victim, for her part, cut off all contact with social services upon reaching the age of majority.

For Judge Poliquin, this decision and “his lack of collaboration in the judicial process amply demonstrate his loss of confidence in the capacity of the State […] to protect it.”

“Here, the Court finds that it is reasonably foreseeable that long-term harm will manifest itself during the victim’s adult life […]», Underlines the judge.

Félipe Biroté Boivin pleaded guilty to two summary charges, therefore considered of less seriousness.

The Atikamekw admitted to having had a sexual relationship in a position of authority, and to having communicated with the complainant, despite a ban after having confessed everything to the police, among other things to express his feelings again.

“This behavior is highly reprehensible and constitutes a significant aggravating factor which increases his degree of responsibility,” argues Judge Poliquin.

Those who had no criminal history will also have to serve a probation period of 18 months upon their release from detention.