The arrest of a suspected Laurentian serial robber has made it possible to find no fewer than 15 victims who allegedly took advantage of car rides involving teenage girls to sexually assault them.
Jeff Perrier had a unique approach: he contacted young girls, mostly between the ages of 12 and 15, via apps like Snapchat and Messenger to get them to take a ride, according to a court document seen by the newspaper.
If they refused, the 27-year-old would bluntly ask them to have sex. The alleged serial robber sometimes pretended to be a man ten years his junior.
He then allegedly took advantage of walks with certain teenage girls to touch and sexually assault them in his car.
Jeff Perrier SQ
New Victims
The Mont-Saint-Michel resident was first arrested in March after six alleged victims came forward to authorities. The Sûreté du Québec searched his home and police got their hands on his mobile phone, a computer and a USB stick.
The investigation and the media coverage of the case then made it possible to find new alleged victims, a total of 15. Only two of them were adults at the time of the crime, according to the denunciation file.
Around 30 charges are currently being filed against Perrier, including sexual assault of five minors, sexual harassment, enticement and forcible detention.
Stuck in his car
Of particular concern are the circumstances surrounding the alleged sexual assault. While in his car with a 12-year-old teenager, Perrier allegedly took his cell phone and locked the door to prevent him from getting out.
“You’re going to shut up and let yourself go,” he would have told her before satisfying his baser instincts.
Perrier then reportedly told him not to report him or he would do it again, then told him to get dressed and leave. The young girl ended up speaking to a school agent after being frightened because he had also allegedly followed her on several occasions.
The alleged pedophile also reportedly got angry, calling another 15-year-old teenager a “slut” and “annoyed” by her refusal to send him nude photos. He also told her that “all women are equal”.
Some probably would have avoided the worst by blocking it after being lured on social networks.
Perrier, who has no criminal record, is currently in custody and his bail hearing will take place at the Mont-Laurier courthouse in the coming weeks.
Crown prosecutor Me Neil Demmerle Shantz will oppose his release, he confirmed to the Journal.
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