Former PQ leader André Boisclair sentenced to two years in prison

Boisclair, 56, pleaded guilty last month to sexually assaulting two men in 2014 and 2015.

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Former Parti Québécois leader André Boisclair was sentenced to a prison term of two years less per day on Monday after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting two men.

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Standing before a judge at the Montreal courthouse, Boisclair, 56, registered little reaction when he learned of his fate. Quickly handcuffed, he was arrested when an acquaintance rushed to hand him a grocery bag containing his belongings.

“The acts committed by (Boisclair) are highly reprehensible,” Quebec court judge Pierre Labelle said in sentencing, acknowledging the courage the complainants showed in coming forward.

Once the future of the Parti Québécois was considered, Boisclair was charged in the first case in 2020, and then in January last year in the second. The charges stem from assaults Boisclair committed in 2014 and 2015.

In her decision Monday, Labelle focused on the “devastating consequences” the assaults continue to have on the victims, who were in their 20s at the time.

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In the first case, after exchanging messages on social media, the victim agreed to meet Boisclair at his home while others were there. The man had consented to certain sexual acts, but he had made it clear that he was not interested in anal sex.

However, at one point in the night, Boisclair, whom the man described as “completely insane” after using drugs, ordered two others to grab the victim and penetrate her.

In the second case, the victim told police Boisclair attempted to initiate sex with him at his residence and had to be told to stop at least three times before the former politician finally backed down.

Both victims were present in court Monday as Labelle summarized how the assaults altered their lives.

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The first victim, Labelle said, has lived through periods of depression ever since and was forced to drop out of school as a result.

“Since the events of 2014, his life has taken a worse turn that he hasn’t been able to escape,” Labelle said. “Although he was involved in politics, he now lives with an aversion to politicians.”

Labelle said the second victim, meanwhile, continues to be paralyzed with grief and anger in the years since.

“She had done her closet introduction just a few months before, and it was just beginning to blossom,” Labelle added.

In deciding Boisclair’s sentence, Labelle weighed both aggravating and mitigating factors.

The latter included the fact that Boisclair had no priors, wrote apologies to both victims, and has received therapy since his arrest.

The fact that Boisclair pleaded guilty, Labelle noted, also allowed the victims to avoid a long and difficult trial.

The sentence of two years minus one day is in line with the joint recommendation made by the defense and Crown prosecutors in the case.

This story will be updated.

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