Congregation De Ste-croix: Catholic Brother's Sexual Abuse Trial Set for November

By Jesse Feith
Montreal Gazette
September 23, 2016

http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/congregation-de-ste-croix-sexual-assault-case-postponed-to-november

Olivain Leblanc,74, who faces charges for allegedly sexually abusing a former student at College Notre-Dame will go to trial in November COLLEGE NOTRE DAME 1981 YEARBOOK) / -

The case against a member of the Congregation de Ste-Croix who faces charges of sexually abusing a former student at College Notre-Dame will go to trial in November, it was decided on Thursday.

Olivain Leblanc, 74, faces charges of gross indecency and sexual touching of an ex-student between 1979 and 1981.

Following many delays, the congregation handed out $18-million in settlements in 2013 to more than 200 victims from three schools — College Notre-Dame, College Saint-Cesaire and Notre-Dame-de-Pohenegamook. Leblanc is one of two members who were charged in criminal court the same year.

Sebastien Richard, a spokesperson for the victims, was irate with Thursday’s decision to postpone the case to November.

“Men suffer in silence for years. The day they decide to finally come forward often only comes after having lived wasted lives,” Richard said outside the courtroom.

“The victim in this case is waiting to put all of this behind him, to finally be able to say it’s over and move on. For three years he’s been thinking of what he went through instead of looking forward. He’s suffering. It’s unbelievable that the Crown would let this drag on for so long.”

Richard’s teacher at College Notre-Dame, Claude Hurtubise, was acquitted in 2006 of sexual abuse charges after Richard filed a complaint with police.

Leblanc was not present for Thursday’s hearing, represented by counsel instead.

According to Richard, the complainant in Leblanc’s case wasn’t compensated when the settlement was reached because he was already paid a $250,000 settlement in exchange for his silence in 1993.

Richard said very few men are willing to come forward with complaints against their abusers, and those who do shouldn’t have to wait for so long to get the trial over with.

“Most people choose to keep it a secret, to hide it from their children, their wives and their friends,” he said, adding that constant court delay is not something they should have to deal with on top of everything else.

A spokesperson for the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions said on Thursday that the bureau had no comment about the delays, but added that the Crown would be ready for the trial, which is scheduled for Nov. 21.

Contact: jfeith@postmedia.com