Former teacher jailed for sexual assault

A former teacher who admitted to being a sex addict was sentenced Monday to serve one year in a provincial jail after previously being convicted of sexual assault, unlawful confinement and assault.

Michel Joseph Aubin Vienneau, 44, was charged after an encounter with an admitted drug addict who testified that prostitution was one way for her to pay for her habit. The encounter occurred at Vienneau’s former school, Etoile de l’Acadie in Sydney, where he taught math and science.

In addition to the jail sentence, Vienneau must also complete a two-year probation period upon his release and is to be a registered sex offender for 20 years. He must also submit a DNA sample to the national registry and is prohibited from possessing weapons for 10 years.

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In passing sentence, provincial court Judge David Ryan said sometimes people with addictions or other issues will put themselves in a position where their safety is compromised to feed their addiction.

“But that does not preclude them from protection of the law. The events that occurred in that room were an affront to the sexual integrity of the victim,” said Ryan.

“Once the person says no, that should have been the end of the matter,” said the judge, adding Vienneau didn’t take no for an answer.

During the trial, the court was told the 33-year-old woman and Vienneau had sexual encounters in the past during which the woman was paid $30 or $40.

The pair agreed to meet on Oct. 23, 2010, and Vienneau picked the woman her up at her home and drove to the nearby school.

The woman told the court they argued on the way to the school because Vienneau said he didn’t have any money and she was adamant there would be no exchange of services without being paid.

Vienneau denied not paying the woman, explaining she became angry with him and demanded more than $30. Vienneau said they both took off their pants, but that prior to intercourse he stopped and told the woman he was not prepared to have sex with her.

The woman said Vienneau forced her into the school and removed her pants. She said she kicked him away prior to intercourse and was able to escape the room. Once in the hallway, she pulled a fire alarm to draw attention to the school.

In an earlier decision, Ryan said he believed the victim and not Vienneau.

Defence lawyer Doug MacKinlay requested a sentence of between six and nine months while prosecutor Shane Russell recommended a two-year jail term.

Meanwhile, Vienneau’s legal woes aren’t over yet as he is scheduled to stand trial Jan. 22 on two counts of breaching court orders and a single count of obstruction involving the same victim. The offences allegedly occurred after he was released on conditions on the sexual assault charges.

Standing before the court, Vienneau apologized for the poor decision he made while maintaining his innocence.

“I did not do what I was accused of,” he sobbed.

Source : capebretonpost