A 21-year-old offender who was convicted of attempting to sexually exploit two teenagers and allegedly sowed “a sense of terror” while in custody will be subject to strict release conditions until the end of his sentence.
“Given your needs and the high risk of repeated violence you represent, there is no alternative to house arrest,” the Parole Board of Canada (CLCC) told Simon Fortin in a decision released this week.
While in custody, the young man is said to have committed, among other things, around twenty mostly violent violations, ranging from arguments with fellow inmates to threats against staff.
Recall that in July 2022, Fortin was sentenced to four years in prison for attempting to exploit two young girls aged 12 and 13 and molesting one of them. He was released the following November, considering his preventive detention pending trial.
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However, the bandit was sentenced to an additional 84 days in prison this summer for non-compliance with conditions, notably for being caught with a cell phone that he had hidden from authorities.
He also admitted to engaging in street gang-related fraud activities “out of fear of reprisals,” Le Journal reported. There are currently no official charges against him in this regard.
Psychopathy
In this context, the CLCC therefore considered it necessary that he be assigned to a halfway house until the end of his sentence. Every evening he will have to regain his footing there.
After a stormier period in detention, “you sow a sense of terror in your sector by constantly walking around with a homemade pickaxe,” the federal organization reports.
For its part, Fortin’s case management team notes “a low level of consideration for others”, a lack of remorse and the use of violence to achieve its goals.
A psychological examination from May 2022 even revealed “several important characteristics that are associated with psychopathy”.
Under strict surveillance
In the community, Simon Fortin continues to have to deal with a long list of prohibitions, which include consuming alcohol and drugs, having contact with children and being near sex workers.
The person declared a long-term offender remains subject to a long-term supervision order (OSLD), which is now limited to 2028.
The commission “finds that you disagree with the decision to impose house arrest under your OSLD and that you have confirmed that no one could force you to stay in a halfway house,” we can read in the partially redacted decision.