Destroyed teenage girls, distressed mothers, shattered trust in the education system: the “despicable” sex crimes committed by teacher Dominic Blanchette have left indelible marks on his five victims, the youngest of whom were 10 years old.
The story so far
- May 2022: Dominic Blanchette is accused of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl. The Montreal police then search for other victims.
- July 2022: Four more people come forward in the case.
- September 2022: The Court determines that the accused will remain detained during the proceedings.
- March 2023: Dominic Blanchette admits having sexually assaulted five young and adolescent girls over several years.
“I gave up sports and extracurricular activities after the last assault. I have constant fear and I live with a feeling of guilt. I have made several suicide attempts. I stopped school for four months, I increased my consumption, ”lists Daniela *, in a punch letter.
Daniela was in 5e elementary school year when Dominic Blanchette, her basketball coach, started attacking her. Almost every evening, he picked her up from daycare and brought her to his class. He blamed the 11-year-old girl for “leaving” him by dating a boy his own age.
In 2019, Dominic Blanchette sexually assaulted her at Camp Tim Hortons. “He took me by the wrists to force me to stay close to him, when I wanted to leave. I didn’t want him to kiss me,” says Daniela.
In front of a room full of victims and their loved ones, the Crown on Monday demanded a sentence of seven to eight years in prison against Mr. Blanchette, while the defense asked for a two-year sentence with extended conditional probation. The 28-year-old man has been in preventive detention for a year.
It weaved its web around its prey from an early age. From 2017 to 2022, he worked at the Carignan and Adélard-Desrosiers elementary schools in Montreal North. He pleaded guilty in March to charges of sexual interference with minors, possession of child pornography, luring and sexual exploitation.
“I worshiped you”
“Why did you do this to us? asked one of his victims, who had to change schools after the attacks. Her mother told the court that she had been in great distress since then. “I am greatly affected by the distress of my daughter. I’m exhausted, I cry often, I’m off work. […] I will always be afraid that she will be assaulted again. »
Eve* was a very vulnerable child of 6e year, when she met Dominic Blanchette. For five years she remained under his yoke. They exchanged thousands of sexually explicit emails and had sex when she was 15.
“You were sacred to me, a being I revered, because I was alone. I did everything not to lose you, you kept me alive, ”wrote the young adult.
In court, Dominic Blanchette showed repentance on Monday, apologizing to the victims. Their letters “got into it,” he said. If he admits having committed “atrocities”, he soberly evokes “inappropriate” gestures and “inadequate” contacts with his victims.
Mr. Blanchette admits having betrayed the trust of the education system and having failed in his duty as a teacher. “I promise to get help so I never do this again. I know exactly who I don’t want to be anymore,” he said. The accused wishes to be detained in a federal institution to follow a program for his delinquency. He also says he is ready to study to change jobs.
Recidivism or rehabilitation?
The Crown prosecutor, Mr.e Annabelle Sheppard, immediately recalled on Monday that these were “vulnerable young girls in places where they should have felt safe”. “We are talking about places where children are supposed to be protected, to be safe. Parents who bring their children to school, who drop them off at daycare, they do not expect educators and teachers to abuse them. »
It’s the same thing at the Tim Hortons camp: it’s a camp for underprivileged young people. The goal is to help them, but it was a place of sexual abuse.
Me Annabelle Sheppard, Crown Attorney
The lawyer also made a link with the case of priest Brian Boucher, sentenced to eight years in prison in 2019 for sexual assault. “Unlike the present case, the victims had to testify. And following the plea, there was a joint eight-year suggestion. But here, we are talking about two victims, not five. »
“The offender presents a high risk of recidivism,” also argued the lawyer, citing excerpts from evaluation reports. According to these reports, “psychological manipulation remains an aggravating factor”. “A child will suffer more from a sexual assault if he had a close relationship and a higher degree of trust between himself and his aggressor. […] The breach of trust is therefore an aggravating factor because it increases the degree of responsibility of the offender, “listed Mr.e Shepard.
For the defense, however, “the objective of social rehabilitation must not be lost sight of”, pleaded the lawyer Me Laurence Juillet, noting that the accused has no prior history and “unwavering family support despite the offenses”. “Each of the family members sees these charges for what they are, which are offenses that are serious […]but they are committed to supporting him and see in Mr. Blanchette a great potential for rehabilitation”, raised Mr.e July.
Dominic Blanchette has “great empathy for the consequences” suffered by the victims, according to his lawyer. “Monsieur identifies precisely what he did. He is someone who realizes the extent of the consequences of his actions, but also the short, medium and long-term effects on the victims. »
According to the Crown, “there were occasions when Mr. Blanchette could have regained control”. The defense asserts, however, that Mr. Blanchette did not do so “for fear of being denounced”. “These are not reactions that could be described as perfect, on the other hand, they are understandable”, indicated Me July.
Mr. Blanchette “regrets not having done so, which testifies to a very great introspection on his part”, recalled the lawyer, finally assuring that his client would be supervised by his mother upon his release from prison.
Judge Mélanie Hébert will deliver her verdict on August 15.
*Fictional first names, to preserve the anonymity of the victims