A Surete du Quebec police car is seen in Montreal on July 22, 2020. A crime victims’ advocacy group is expressing concern after a Quebec man was paroled last month after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a woman while she slept. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Paul Chiasson A crime victims’ advocacy group expressed concern Tuesday after a Quebec man was granted conditional discharge in a sexual-assault case, in part because the judge felt a conviction could hurt the man’s career. Marie-Christine Villeneuve of the Crime Victims’ Help Centers says she is concerned the light sentence could be a deterrent to victims and make them reluctant to report sexual assaults. “If you’re a victim who sees this kind of decision, you’re likely to be more afraid to go through the legal process, file a complaint, and maybe fear that you’ll actually be vindicated at the end of that process,” he said. in an interview. The decision, he said, appears to be contrary to the current trend, “which is more about concern for the victim at the center of the legal process.” In the June ruling, a Quebec court judge in Trois-Rivières, Que., opted to give Simon Houle probation and a conditional discharge, in part because a conviction would make it difficult for Houle to travel as an engineer. Houle pleaded guilty last year to sexual assault and voyeurism after assaulting an acquaintance in 2019 and taking pictures of her private parts as she slept. He was 27 at the time. The victim “woke up to the light of a camera” to find Houle attacking her with his fingers after she had fallen asleep at a friend’s house following a night of drinking at a bar with a group of friends. Her shirt was pulled up and her bra was undone, the court order said. The woman “panicked” and went to the kitchen, where the accused followed her and brought her back to bed. A search of his phone later revealed he had taken nine photos. Judge Matthieu Poliquin found that the victim suffered significant harm as a result of the assault, including anger, shame, fear of seeing the defendant and the consequences for his school, work and personal life. He was also in a vulnerable state due to the fact that he had consumed alcohol and was asleep, the judgment said. However, the judge noted that the attack happened “overall quickly”, adding that Houle had taken treatment seriously and was genuinely remorseful for his actions. “A sentence other than discharge would have had a significant impact on his career as an engineer,” the judge wrote. “This profession requires traveling around the world,” he added, while acknowledging that his employer had not yet required Houle to travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Houle admitted during treatment that he had assaulted another person in 2015. The judge called that admission troubling but said it also showed a “desire to be transparent”. No charges were filed as a result of the 2015 incident. Houle was also convicted of impaired driving in 2014, but had never been convicted of a violent crime. Poliquin said Houle was at low risk of recidivism and had been convincingly rehabilitated. “It is in the general interest that the accused, an asset to society, should be able to continue his professional career,” the judge wrote. Parole may be granted in cases where a person pleads guilty but is not convicted if certain conditions are met. Houle received three years of probation and must pay $6,000 to a victim assistance group. If he qualifies, he will avoid a permanent criminal record. Quebec’s Crown Prosecution Service says it will seek to appeal the judge’s sentencing decision in the coming weeks. Houle’s sentence, first reported by Radio-Canada, sparked an avalanche of online comments denouncing the decision. Villeneuve said that while the verdict may be disappointing for some, it is important to remember that it is only one decision and that the legal system is only one path to healing for victims. Although courts have not traditionally invited survivors of sexual assault, efforts are being made to restore trust through the implementation of specialized sexual assault courts, he said. Villeneuve added that her organization is there to support victims, whether they choose to file a formal complaint or not.
