A former member of Quebec’s provincial legislature was found guilty of sexual assault on Thursday in provincial court at the Saint-Jérôme. Former Argenteuil MNA Yves St-Denis received a conditional discharge and will have to do 50 hours of community work, which was the Crown’s request.
Quebec Court Judge Michèle Toupin also ruled that St-Denis cannot communicate with the victim, identified only by the initials “M. B.” in the judgment.
In her decision, Justice Toupin recalled that the circumstances, took place after an evening of drinking which involved several people. At the end of the evening, St-Denis declined an offer to stay overnight at the home of his hosts and ultimately ended up staying at the home of the victim.
The judge related the victim’s version, in which she says she told St-Denis she did not want to accommodate him overnight, but ultimately yielded and told him he could sleep on a sofa, after refusing his request that they sleep together.
Shortly afterwards, St-Denis, who was uncomfortable, supposedly went to the victim to say he was leaving, According to the victim, she woke up and had to push St-Denis away; he was trying to kiss her.
St-Denis claims that he sat on the bed to give her a kiss on each cheek before leaving.
St-Denis has denied any aggression.
The judge found that St-Denis’ version was not credible.
