A pimp who prompted an “extremely” vulnerable victim to prostitute himself in his room of a women’s accommodation center was sentenced to a “fairly mild” sentence of three years of penitentiary on Thursday.
“Posting is an offense which must be denounced heavily, which requires a long period of incarceration; 36 months is really the minimum. It is a parasitic offense which has serious consequences on the victims, ”concluded judge Roxane Laporte, by ratifying the common suggestion of the parties, at the Montreal courthouse.
Jean-François Piché, a 29-year-old Montrealers, pleaded guilty, last April, to three charges related to pimping and a non-compliance with a court order. He was back in court on Thursday to receive his sentence.
In the spring of 2022, Jean-François Piché recruited Martine* near a women’s accommodation center. As she had money problems, she agreed to offer sexual services. The same day, she welcomed her first “client” in her room at the accommodation center. Jean-François Piché then awaited him in the kitchen.
For two weeks, Martine offered sexual services to the accommodation center, under the leadership of the pimps. But the place put off some “customers” who turned back. Neither the name nor the nature of the center was revealed.
” Several [personnes] have changed their idea and expressed their discomfort when she saw that she lived in a women’s center, “said the presentation of the facts.
For weeks, Martine met in an apartment of two to five “customers” per day. Jean-François Piché took care of everything, from announcements to services and prices. At her request, Martine had to offer particularly degrading sexual services: scatophilia, domination, foot fetishism, etc.
A “minimum” sentence
Thursday, the prosecutor of the crown me Sarah-Audrey Daigneault and the defense lawye Isabelle Leclerc presented a joint recommendation of three years of penitentiary.
A “minimum” sentence for a “parasitic” offense, insisted Judge Laporte.
However, the judge took into account the will of the complainant not to testify to ratify the common suggestion.
The judge also recalled the numerous aggravating factors on the file, including the victim’s “extreme” vulnerability and the acts of “significant degradation” that she had to endure.
“It is clear that in the proof, you had an important control over the complainant, you are used to ill -treatment in order to maintain your control and your authority on it,” said the judge
Me Leclerc, in defense, portrayed his client as a man who came out of homelessness and who consumed alcohol. “He had met this lady and they were entitled at the start and it degenerated a little,” said the defense lawyer.
“It has degenerated more than,” replied Judge Laporte du Tac to TAC.
The victim, who was not present at the hearing, has regained hand, according to the crown prosecutor. “She was proud of herself to go much better,” she told the judge.