Father Sentenced to 15 Years for Sexual Abuse of Daughter

In a disturbing case that has captured the attention of the local community, a 39-year-old father from Roche-Bois has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexually abusing his daughter when she was just 12 years old. The Children’s Court delivered its verdict on January 10, 2025, following a trial in which the defendant pleaded not guilty to three charges of causing a child to be sexually abused.

The incidents occurred between 2019 and 2020 in Bois-Marchand, and involved the father abusing his daughter on three distinct occasions.

The young girl reported the abuse to authorities on February 2, 2020, detailing harrowing experiences during her testimony.

According to her account, the first instance of abuse took place in 2020 when her father exploited her trust and subsequently gave her money to buy pastries.

The situation escalated further when the father repeated his abusive behavior while the girl’s mother and sister were visiting a relative in Olivia.

In court, the father attempted to defend his actions by claiming that his daughter had developed a grudge against him after he threatened to kick her out of the house.

He accused her of fabricating the allegations out of vengeance.

However, these defenses did little to sway Magistrate Bhavna Sawock, who found him guilty on May 31, 2024.

During the sentencing, Magistrate Sawock emphasized the profound bond between fathers and daughters, characterizing it as a unique relationship filled with love, friendship, and trust.

She lamented that this particular case involved a father who betrayed that bond, becoming not a protector but a predator.

She stated, “A home should be a sanctuary where a child feels safe. Instead, for this young girl, it became a place of abuse and fear.”

The magistrate noted the severity of the offenses, particularly given that they occurred within the family home, a space that should nurture security.

Drawing attention to the broader implications of the abuse, Sawock highlighted the victim’s testimony that her father frequently abused her mother.

On one such occasion, after the mother left the home following a violent incident, the father proceeded to sexually assault his daughter, reinforcing the trauma inflicted upon her.

Describing the crimes as “odious,” she remarked on the difficulty of envisioning a more egregious breach of trust within a family.

In light of the nature of these offenses, she deemed a substantial prison sentence necessary, ultimately imposing a 15-year sentence for each of the three charges, to be served concurrently.

This verdict underscores the critical issue of child protection within the community and the legal system’s commitment to justice for the most vulnerable members of society.

Source: Defi Media