Former police officer Maxime Ouimet, who calls himself the “people’s policeman”, pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of “harassing communications” against TVA journalist Yves Poirier.
“Journalists do essential work in society and they have the right to do so without fear of being harassed or harassed by anyone who disagrees with what they write,” said the Judge Marie-Josée Di Lallo, rendering her decision on the sentence to be imposed on the 36-year-old man, at the Montreal courthouse.
Maxime Ouimet, known for his opposition to health measures, had been accused of facts dating back to November 27, 2020, when he gave on his Facebook page the cell numbers of journalist Yves Poirier as well as that of the journalist from The PressTristan Peloquin.
The TVA journalist had met Mr. Ouimet in October 2020 for a report and had left him his cell number. But the latter was unhappy with the content of the report made, said the lawyer for the prosecution, Ms.and Delphine Mauger.
No criminal record
Afterwards, in a Facebook message, the accused then wrote this: “Several people give me great scoops and would like to share the information with journalists, but they do not know how to reach them. I have a lot of contacts and it would be my pleasure to share them with you if it can help you”.
Result: Yves Poirier received around thirty calls in two days, before he stopped answering his phone. Messages of insults and provocation then accumulated on his voicemail.
Maxime Ouimet admitted the facts.
As for the charge of harassing communications against Mr. Péloquin, it fell Monday morning.
And for what he did to Mr. Poirier, the ex-policeman from Laval gets away with no criminal record.
He received a conditional discharge, along with a year’s probation, during which he cannot communicate with the two journalists or refer to them on social media.
This was a joint recommendation of the two attorneys for the prosecution and the defence.
Even before Monday’s hearing, Mr. Ouimet had also donated $3,000 to the Marie-Vincent Foundation, which helps child victims of violence, a request from Mr. Poirier who wanted the money to be used for women. and children, explained Mr.and Mauger. The judge took this into account, as well as the fact that the accused has no criminal record.