A cyberpredator who lured a 14-year-old teenager played by an investigative journalist online should be sentenced to 20 months in prison, the prosecution pleaded on Friday. Rémi Richard still claims his innocence and presents a risk of recidivism, according to experts.
Posted at 1:24 p.m.
“In the sexological relationship, [Rémi Richard] lacks transparency and does not recognize its wrongdoings. His risk of recurrence is considered medium. This is not a low to moderate risk case,” argued Crown Prosecutor M.e Charles Doucet Friday during observations on the sentence of Rémi Richard at the Montreal courthouse.
The 57-year-old was convicted last year of computer luring and making sexually explicit material available to a child. In this unprecedented case, the heart of the evidence was based on journalistic material since the “victim” was a journalist from the investigative program I.
The journalist had created the profile of a 14-year-old girl on Periscope, an application that allowed live streaming of videos. In the report broadcast in November 2017 on TVA, we saw the blurred silhouette of Rémi Richard on the air. He was however recognized by a person who alerted the police.
For almost an hour, Rémi Richard masturbated while talking with the one he thought was 14 years old. He told her that it would be “trippy” to meet a “young girl who likes to show off”.
“Any age. As long as it doesn’t go 10-11-12-13 years old. A girl who shows off and is a voyeur. Not a child,” he told the reporter, who told him he was 14. “You’re 14… if you want to show off, you look good,” he replied.
Rémi Richard then offered his prey to see himself “in real life” and set an appointment with her in a parking lot in Angrignon Park. Television cameras were waiting for him there.
The Crown prosecutor pleaded to Judge Josée Bélanger that the lure was not a “victimless crime”, according to the Supreme Court. Moreover, the highest court in the country maintained in 2020 in the Friesen judgment that the absence of a real victim did not diminish the responsibility of the offender, underlined Me Sweet. This judgment came to toughen the sentences for child molesters.
Thus, in the mind of the Supreme Court, the fact that Rémi Richard was cornered by the result of a journalistic investigation, and not by a police investigation, does not change anything in the file, argued Mr.e Doucet, who is asking for 20 months in prison, followed by two years’ probation.
The defense attorney, Mr.e Tom Pentefountas, asks for a year in detention, citing his client’s lack of criminal record, his age and the lack of premeditation. He agrees, however, that the expert reports are not “the best” in the history of the palace, without being the “worst”.
The judge will decide next January.