Former bus driver pleads guilty after years of sexual offences with teen girl
Warning: This story contains descriptions of sexual offences
A former bus driver who sexually exploited and abused a teenage girl for half a decade pleaded guilty to multiple sexual offences on Monday in a Quebec courthouse.
According to a joint statement of facts, the 30-year-old victim met Pierre Lafontaine, 70, when he was her bus driver and she was in Grade 7. The two spoke regularly for three years.
"She considered him a friend and confidant," the court document reads.
When the victim, then aged 15, changed schools in Grade 9, the 55-year-old man suggested they exchange numbers, which she agreed to.
"At the time, G.B. was going through a difficult period in her life and was vulnerable. She was suffering from eating disorders and self-mutilation," the document reads. "The accused knew this."
Lafontaine then asked to meet the victim at Champlain Mall in Brossard, Que., picked her up and started kissing her when parked. She "froze," according to the facts.
The interactions intensified after the initial meeting with Lafontaine, picking her up at lunchtime two to three times a week and engaging in oral sex with the teenage girl.
The court document mentioned that she had no sexual experience at the time and "pretended to feel pleasure," but wished "it would stop."
"The accused tells her that if she talks about what they are doing, she will destroy his life. G.B. sees him as her only source of comfort," the document reads.
Lafontaine had unprotected sex with the girl four months after the meeting at Champlain Mall with the victim said she "was in pain and felt dirty."
The lunchtime meetings continued with "various sexual contacts" that became "intense and degrading," and evening online chats involving webcam shows and explicit conversations continued at the same time.
The relationship lasted for over five years.
The victim eventually sought help from a psychologist and realized that her experiences were not normal.
"At all times, the accused was fully aware of G.B.'s age and went to great lengths when introducing her [to other people] not to say her real age or even her name," the document reads, adding he used a nickname when referring to her.
In pleading guilty to sexual exploitation, Lafontaine acknowledges he was in a position of authority over the teenage girl and that she depended on him and was being exploited.
Lafontaine pleaded guilty to several sexual offences, including sexual touching, exploitation, and other charges.
His sentencing date is scheduled for Sept. 4.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man books $7,700 luxury villa on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he was charged more than $7,700 to book a luxury villa on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.