A man who provided babysitting or mentoring services for young children is alleged to have sexually assaulted several young boys over the past decade. Investigators claim to have “strong reasons” to believe that Michaël Michaud would have caused other victims.
The 41-year-old Montrealer faces no less than 18 charges: sexual assault, sexual contact with a minor, production and possession of child pornography and voyeurism. He also returned to court on Thursday at the Montreal courthouse.
According to the indictment, Michaël Michaud sexually assaulted five children under the age of 16. He would also have unknowingly filmed a sixth person, whose age is not specified.
His alleged crimes were committed between 2011 and 2024 in several cities: Montreal. Laval, Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Île-Perrot, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Saint-Clet and Saint-Polycarpe.
Michaël Michaud has been detained since last July. He was initially arrested on charges related to child pornography. Then, the investigation clearly revealed that he had molested children. A host of accusations were then added.
According to the police, Michaël Michaud would have been in contact with several children in recent years.
“He would befriend families with young children, offering them babysitting or mentoring services. It was when he was alone with the children that he allegedly committed acts of a sexual nature against them,” indicates the Montreal City Police Service (SPVM) in a press release released on Friday.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE SPVM
Michaël Michaud is 1.78 m tall and weighs 100 kg. He has brown hair, dark eyes and wears vision glasses.
Michaël Michaud has no criminal record. However, he was already accused of sexual contact with a minor in 2002. The accusations were, however, withdrawn, following a one-year commitment before the Court, according to the computerized docket.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE SPVM
Michaël Michaud, when he was a young adult.
The SPVM invites any potential victim of Michaël Michaud to go to a neighborhood station, to call 514 280-8502 or to contact 911. It is also possible to communicate anonymously with Info-Crime Montréal at 514 393-1133.