Richard Gauthier accused of sexual harassment (1981-85)

"He understands, he apologized, he understands the situation never should have arisen, it was in the past and he didn't do it again, rules were different for coaches, -what of those young people who live with what he did to them for the rest of their lives??
 
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puglover said:
"He understands, he apologized, he understands the situation never should have arisen, it was in the past and he didn't do it again, rules were different for coaches, -what of those young people who live with what he did to them for the rest of their lives??
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But also he understands the complainant’s distress even though he DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACTS???
 
Update today:

www.theglobeandmail.com

Canadian skating coach Richard Gauthier given 12 months for sex assault

Richard Gauthier was inducted into the Skate Canada Hall of Fame as a coach in 2015, though he has since been expelled from the organization
www.theglobeandmail.com www.theglobeandmail.com

"A renowned Canadian pairs skating coach has been sentenced to 12 months in jail for sexual assault and gross indecency.

Richard Gauthier was found guilty in January of two charges dating back to the 1980s involving a teenage male skater whom he trained.

He was acquitted of a third count of indecent assault against the victim, whose identity is covered by a publication ban.

Quebec court Judge Josée Bélanger said today (11.6.2023) that a jail sentence was appropriate because of the age of the victim, who was 14 or 15 at the time, and because of the position of trust Gauthier held over him as his coach.

Gauthier, 61, spent more than three decades training world-class pairs skaters.

He was inducted into the Skate Canada Hall of Fame as a coach in 2015, though he has since been expelled from the organization.
 
A renowned Canadian pairs skating coach was sentenced on Monday to 12 months in jail for sexual assault and gross indecency against a teenage athlete in the 1980s.

Quebec court Judge Josee Belanger told a Montreal court that Richard Gauthier deserves a harsh sentence due to factors that include the age of the victim and the position of authority and trust Gauthier had over him.
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Then why didn't she give him one? :confused:
 
Le Journal de Montréal was able to obtain 23 letters of appreciation filed in favor of Richard Gauthier (including Manon Perron, Julie Marcotte, Benoit Lavoie, Eric Radford, Ghislain Briand) before his sentencing - March 16, 2024 article: https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2...stique-un-agresseur-sexuel-dune-bonte-extreme

Machine translated excerpts:
In August [2023], in order to determine Gauthier's sentence, his lawyer made the court hear six testimonies in his favor, including renowned coach Manon Perron. The defense also filed 23 letters of appreciation to Gauthier. the attacker, in the hope of receiving clemency from judge Josée Bélanger. The lawyer wanted a prison sentence on weekends or at home. Gauthier was ultimately sentenced to one year in detention.
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In her decision to sentence Gauthier to one year in prison, Judge Bélanger emphasized that the testimonies “well illustrate the extent to which sexual violence against children can be invisible in the eyes of society.” She recalled how children who have suffered sexual violence can suffer significant after-effects.
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“Athletes are already afraid of denouncing,” adds Sylvain Croteau, of Sport’Aide. When they see all that [the scandals, the support], it’s insecure. It doesn't make you want to come out and denounce. Under the pretext of performance, then of achieving results, we are ready to close our eyes, to accept, to forgive quite easily. »
Asked about the participation in a criminal trial of its members, several of whom work closely with the federation, the general director of Patinage Québec, Any-Claude Dion, reiterated that “it was a choice that was personal to them. We ensure that the rules of ethics are respected in our sport.”
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Some skaters emphasize in their letter that Gauthier was like a member of the family, this was the case with former athlete Mervin Tran. He says the ex-coach was a role model and mentor “who guided him to become the person he is today.”
Mr. Croteau does not want to throw stones at the athletes.
“Those who have not suffered this kind of behavior, they will certainly have extraordinary memories. The coach led them to the promised land of a medal, a championship or a place on the national team. You can't blame them, at the time they were young, they didn't know what was right or wrong. »
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ETA the journalist's post in French: https://twitter.com/MarieC_Noel/status/1769036206615003241
For 4 years, I have been investigating the world of figure skating. The priority is to establish a healthy and safe environment for athletes. Supporting a former coach, guilty of sexual assault on a skater, risks discouraging victims from reporting.
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What just drives me insane about this one is RG more or less admitted it. Not "he said - he said" but we both say. That just seems indefensible - no matter what kind of a terrific guy, great coach, role model he has been.
 
Honestly, the more 'normals' who talk about how wonderful the convicted s.o. was, the greater that s.o.'s crimes, imo.

These crimes happen in no small part because of all the actual goodwill the criminal creates.

While a criminal who hides in the dark alley and attacks may use more physical violence, the criminal who manipulates and abuses the trust of someone known to them demonstrates more sustained evil over a much longer period of time. The betrayal is so much greater.
 
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