Repeat sex offender sentenced

BY KEITH LACEY

A developmentally challenged repeat sex offender was given a lengthy jail sentence Thursday after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a woman who kindly offered him a meal and cigarette.

Michel Guy Durepos, 34, was charged with aggravated sexual assault, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of sexual assault for an incident which took place May 18 near downtown Sudbury.

Court heard Durepos is illiterate and suffers from numerous sexual deviancy issues. This is his fourth conviction for sexual assault.

Justice William Fitzgerald said this is a very difficult case and the court "must strike a balance between criminality and illness" and agreed with a joint submission Durepos spend 16 months in jail on top of the three months he's already spent in pre-trial custody.

Fitzgerald recommended Durepos serve his time at the Ontario Correctional Institute in Brampton, where he will be able to access professional assistance for his numerous sexual and psychological problems.

Durepos was also prohibited from possessing weapons for 10 years and ordered to submit a DNA sample for a national crime data bank.

When he's released from custody, he will be on probation for one year and during that time he is to stay away from all places where young people under the age of 14 normally congregate, including schoolyards, playgrounds, swimming pools and recreation centres.

Court heard that on May 18, Durepos, who lives on the street, stopped a young woman he was an acquaintance with and asked for a cigarette.

The woman and her male companion invited him to a residence nearby and there she offered Durepos some food and a cigarette.

The woman's male companion wasn't feeling well and soon fell asleep on a couch.

When the woman went to the washroom, Durepos entered, took down his pants and sexually assaulted her.

The male companion awoke, entered the washroom and saw Durepos pulling up his pants. Durepos took off from the residence.

The woman was so traumatized by what happened, it took her a couple of weeks to gather the strength to report the incident to police, said assistant Crown attorney Kara Vakiparta.

Durepos was placed under arrest in early June and has spent all his time in segregation inside the Sudbury District Jail, said defence counsel Denis Michel.

Michel said Durepos has only a Grade 3 education and has lived on the streets for many years.

Despite his many problems, psychological testing revealed his client was criminally responsible and understands the gravity of his actions, said Michel.

Sending him to the correctional institute in Brampton would help his client access much-needed professional help, he said.

His client's plea of guilt saved the victim from having to testify at what would have been very difficult court proceedings and this should be considered by the court, said Michel.