An exhibitionist guilty of masturbating in front of women should serve his sentence at home to better protect the public, the defense argues. On the contrary, this “multi-recidivist” must be sent to prison to protect the population, believes the Crown.
“This crime had a significant impact on [la victime]. This is a case that reminds us of the real impact of non-contact sex crimes. They should not be minimized, ”insisted the Crown prosecutor, Ms.e Charles Doucet, Thursday at the Montreal courthouse during Maxime Young’s sentencing hearing.
The 30-year-old was found guilty last November of committing an indecent act in a public place. The exhibitionist masturbated in his vehicle in front of three women, at the corner of Prince-Arthur and University streets in Montreal in September 2020.
Maxime Young has accumulated convictions for years for indecent actions and exhibitionism. Last January, in Longueuil, he received a prison sentence in the community for a similar case. He also has a history of sexual contact with a minor.
This is why it is now time to sentence Maxime Young to a prison term of 15 months, according to the Prosecution. Me Doucet also pointed out to Judge Érick Vanchestein that the magistrate himself had given the accused a chance in the past by sentencing him to a community sentence.
“Mr. Young must understand through incarceration the social disapproval that society has for his type of antisocial and deviant behavior that he has accumulated over the years. It is the firm imprisonment that can dissuade him from recidivism, ”pleaded Mr.e Doucet, recalling the “high” risk of recidivism of the accused according to the reports.
On the contrary, imprisonment in the community remains the “best way” to ensure that Maxime Young does not reoffend, hammered his lawyer, Mr.e Alexandre Caissie. In his eyes, a strict sentence of house arrest will even reduce the risk to “almost zero”.
According to the reasoning of the defense, if he is sentenced to prison, Maxime Young will be practically left to himself after his parole. It is therefore better to supervise him with a prison sentence at home which he will have to serve completely, believes the defense. Note, however, that the Crown is asking for probation with follow-up in addition to firm detention.
“A well-informed public knows it’s not a party [la prison dans la collectivité]. It’s demanding. There are spot checks. It must relate, “said Mr.e Cashier.
On the other hand, Maxime Young is a “seriously ill” suffering from a “paraphilia”, exhibitionism, insists the defense. “It’s a health problem,” added M.e Caissie, comparing his client’s “disease” to alcoholism.
“It is not by incarcerating him and leaving him without service that the paraphilia will be reduced”, maintained Mr.e Cashier.
In the past, Maxime Young completed three years of therapy before reoffending.
Maxime Young briefly addressed the court at the end of the hearing. “I don’t ask forgiveness from anyone. I want to express my shame and regret towards the victims. I am aware of the consequences. I’m sorry,” he said.
The judge will hand down the sentence next August.