Latest news with #Corson
Global News
09-05-2025
- Global News
Quebec junior hockey player Noah Corson's sex assault sentence a ‘wake up call' to young men, advocate says
Warning: This story contains sensitive subject matter. Discretion is advised. The recent sentencing of a Quebec junior hockey player has renewed calls for young men to better understand consent, says a sexual assault advocate. On Monday, former Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) player Noah Corson was sentenced to two years less a day in jail for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl during group sex involving two other players. Corson, the son of former Montreal Canadiens player Shayne Corson, received his sentence in Drummondville, Que., from Judge Paul Dunnigan. The assault happened in 2016, in Drummondville, with two other players who were both then 17-year-old minors. They both pleaded guilty in youth court and their identities are protected by a publication ban. Corson, now 27, was 18 at the time and played with the Drummondville Voltigeurs. Corson had testified he believed the girl was at least 16. Story continues below advertisement Dunnigan based his ruling not on the victim's claim that she did not consent to the group sex, but on Corson's failure to take reasonable steps to confirm the age of the victim, whose identity is also protected. In an interview with Global News on Thursday, sexual assault and exploitation advocate Jennie-Laure Sully with CLES, said, 'She was underage, she did not have the legal age of consent, so consent was not possible. It was his responsibility to check her age. Mistake number one is to presume.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The Criminal Code says a person must be at least 16 years old to consent to sex, though there is an exception for 14- and 15-year-olds when their sexual partner is less than five years older than them. However, Dunnigan cited legal precedent that states the exception does not apply to cases involving more than two participants in a sexual act. Sully agreed, saying this wasn't a simple sexual encounter between two people, but between a group of three junior hockey league players and one girl, which raises questions around power and coercion. While sex education programs should be teaching young people about consent and the law, Sully said those working with victims have seen a noticeable increase in sexual assault cases by young men and boys. 'Things were starting to change after the Me Too movement and the era that followed. It had a big cultural impact. But I think it effected older men who saw the consequences unfold and feared for themselves and their careers,' Sully said. Story continues below advertisement 'But today's younger men and boys, they were too young during that time, they didn't get that fear — the fear of repercussions. And there's a sort of backlash to that now, an overcorrection, an online Andrew Tate culture that is influencing this younger generation.' The Crown had sought a 30-month sentence, while the defence representing Corson argued for a sentence of two years less a day to be served in the community. During sentencing, the judge noted findings in a pre-sentence report that said, 'The accused's background being that of hockey, the internal culture linked to it could have influenced his thinking or that popularity and success could have given way to a relative feeling of impunity and a certain objectification of women.' Sully also spoke about what she called the 'negative influence of entitlement and a sense of impunity' that young boys can feel when in groups. This comes amid an ongoing high-profile world junior sexual assault trial in Ontario this week involving five former members of Canada's world junior hockey team. When it comes to addressing sexual violence embedded in junior hockey culture, Quebec's sports minister, Isabelle Charest, told Global News in a statement that she 'would first like to reiterate that we are actively working on these issues, particularly with regard to driving cultural change in hockey.' Story continues below advertisement She added that she strongly encourages victims to continue to come forward. When asked for comment on Corson's sentencing, the QMJHL spokesperson Raphaël Doucet said, 'Our thoughts are with the victim and we wish her all the best in the future.' Corson's lawyers say they will appeal the guilty verdict. Support is available for people who have been sexually assaulted or abused. You can access crisis lines and local support services. Visit the Department of Justice's Victim Services Directory for a list of resources in your area. — with files from The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Free Press
06-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ex-QMJHL player Noah Corson to serve jail time in Quebec sex-assault case
MONTREAL – Former Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League player Noah Corson has been sentenced to two years less a day in jail for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl. Corson, 27, the son of former NHL player Shayne Corson, received his sentence from Quebec court Judge Paul Dunnigan on Monday in Drummondville, Que., about 100 kilometres northeast of Montreal. Dunnigan found Corson guilty on Feb. 9, 2024, saying he did not take all reasonable measures to verify the age of the victim, whose identity is protected by a publication ban. The English-language logo for the QMJHL is seen in an undated handout graphic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-QMJHL, *MANDATORY CREDIT* She was assaulted in 2016 in Drummondville during group sex involving two other minors accused in the case. The other two, both 17, pleaded guilty in youth court. Corson was 18 at the time of the assault and played with the Drummondville Voltigeurs. The Crown had sought a 30-month sentence, while the defence had argued for a sentence of two years less a day to be served in the community. Corson had testified he believed the girl was at least 16, which would have been a valid defence if he had done everything he reasonably could have to verify her age. His failure to do that was enough to determine his guilt, the judge said in his 2024 ruling. During sentencing, Dunnigan noted findings in a pre-sentence report that said, 'the accused's background being that of hockey, the internal culture linked to it could have influenced his thinking or that popularity and success could have given way to a relative feeling of impunity and a certain objectification of women.' Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Sign up for The Warm-Up Corson's lawyers are appealing the guilty verdict. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2025.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Yahoo
Twin sister accused of lying to investigators after 2023 fatal Amish buggy crash sentenced
Mar. 31—PRESTON, Minn. — The twin sister accused of lying to investigators after a 2023 fatal Amish buggy crash was sentenced to 90 days in jail and 120 days of house arrest. Sarah Beth Petersen, 36, appeared in the Fillmore County Courthouse for her sentencing hearing on Monday, March 31. Petersen and her twin sister Samantha Jo Petersen are accused of attempting to switch places after Samantha's vehicle struck a two-wheeled horse-drawn buggy at 8:25 a.m. on Sept. 25, 2023, on Fillmore County Road 1 near the intersection with County Road 102. As a result of the crash, two children and a horse were killed. Two more children were injured. Sarah Petersen was charged in February 2024 with 16 felony counts, relating to aiding an offender and taking responsibility for criminal acts. One year later, she pleaded guilty to two felony counts of criminal vehicular operation that caused great bodily harm, both involving her taking responsibility for the criminal acts of another. "I am truly, deeply sorry to the Millers," Petersen said. "My actions caused further pain to the family who was already heartbroken." During her sentencing hearing on Monday, March 31, Fillmore County Attorney Brett Corson requested that Petersen would be ordered to serve six months in jail. A memorandum filed by the state earlier on Monday said both parties agreed that Petersen would serve no prison time. "Six months is a blessing for the defendant," Corson said to the court. Corson proceeded to inform the court of Petersen's previous convictions in 2016 and 2017 when she was charged with misrepresenting herself as her sister, Samantha Jo Petersen, when stopped by law enforcement. Due to her repeated history of attempting to deceive law enforcement, Corson argued that she serves 90 days in jail starting on Monday. A victim services advocate read a statement from the parents of the children who died. Their letter said it hurt them to see "how lightly" Petersen took the incident. "We've been given a life sentence, and our lives will never be the same," the letter read. Defense attorney Dan McIntosh argued that the court does not impose any jail time. Although Petersen deceived law enforcement by claiming she was the driver, McIntosh argued that Petersen was not the one to directly cause harm. "It was misguided and it was wrong, but she was trying to help out her sister," he said. McIntosh called Timothy Volz, Petersen's therapist, to the stand. Volz testified that Petersen has been dealing with the "emotional trauma" of the accident and plans to continue seeking treatment, regardless of the sentence. Petersen then addressed the court, apologizing to the family and law enforcement. Judge Jeremy Clinefelter accepted her guilty plea and ordered her to begin serving a 90-day jail sentence on April 25. She will also serve 120 days on house arrest and was ordered to pay a $1,500 fine. He dismissed the remaining 14 counts. "This conduct was not your conduct that caused the tragic events of that day," Clinefelter said. However, he told her that her lies to law enforcement still deserve consequences. He referenced that in the initial police reports, one of Petersen's children told their teacher what happened at the accident scene. "Even your kids knew better than you did," Clinefelter said. A hearing is scheduled for Samantha Jo Petersen on June 9. After Monday's hearing, Corson told the Post Bulletin that talks of a resolution in Samantha Jo Petersen's case is in the works. Witnesses who first arrived at the crash told a captain with the Fillmore County Sheriff's Office that they saw a woman they presumed involved in the crash on the scene on a phone. Later, another woman appeared at the scene who looked similar to the first woman, but wearing different clothes. As Sarah sat in the squad car, the car's audio recording equipment picked up a conversation between the sisters. The two discussed how law enforcement could not tell them apart. "There's no way they would ever know the difference between the two of us so they can't tell," Sarah could be heard saying. In a search of Samantha's phone, investigators found text messages from Samantha to friends including one where she wrote: "Made Sarah come and take the fall for it so I wouldn't go to prison." Samantha had also used her phone to search "What happens if you get in an accident with an Amish buggy and kill two people," "how to lock an iphone cops have," and "if you hit a buggy and kill two people are you going to prison?"
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Imperial CEO Brad Corson to step down from oilsands giant in May
Imperial Oil Ltd. chief executive Brad Corson will retire this spring after more than five turbulent years helming the oilsands giant. Taking over on May 8 will be John Whelan, currently ExxonMobil Corp.'s senior vice-president of conventional and heavy oil, the company said on Thursday. Corson's tenure as CEO began at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020, when crude prices crashed amid global lockdowns, sending producers such as Imperial scrambling to dramatically slash spending. He had previously served as an ExxonMobil vice-president, heading the company's global upstream acquisition and divestment programs. Under Corson, Imperial rapidly bounced back as commodity prices recovered following the pandemic, ushering in a period of record production and profit growth, driven by output gains at its Kearl oilsands mine and Cold Lake in-situ operations in Alberta. The company's share price has climbed more than 200 per cent over the past five years. The company's environmental record under Corson, however, was mixed. Imperial greenlit a new renewable diesel facility at its Strathcona, Alta., refinery and became a founding member of the oilsands sector's decarbonization-focused Pathways Alliance, but the company also faced regulatory penalties over a massive leak at one of its facilities. Imperial was hit with nine charges by the Alberta Energy Regulator earlier this month as a result of the release of an estimated 5.3 million litres of toxic wastewater that overflowed a berm at Kearl two years ago. 'Brad steered the company through the challenges of the global pandemic, with the organization emerging to deliver the strongest financial years in company history,' lead Imperial director David Cornhill said in a statement. Corson's departure comes as Canada's oilpatch prepares to face a potential trade war with the United States, including a 10 per cent tariff on exports of Canadian energy to the U.S. His replacement, Whelan, a native of St. John's, Nfld., trained as a mechanical engineer before starting his career at ExxonMobil in Drayton Valley, Alta. West-East pipeline sentiment shifts 'We believe in free trade. We think the U.S. needs us': Suncor CEO He was previously appointed vice-president of upstream production at Imperial in 2013 before his most recent posting at Exxon. Imperial is one of Canada's four largest oilsands producers. It reported net income of $4.8 billion last year, and upstream production of 460,000 barrels of oil-equivalent per day in the fourth quarter of 2024. • Email: mpotkins@
Voice of America
27-01-2025
- Climate
- Voice of America
Earthquake rattles houses in Maine, felt as far away as Pennsylvania
A 3.8-magnitude earthquake centered near the Maine coast rattled houses in northern New England on Monday and was felt by surprised residents of states hundreds of miles away. The earthquake took place at about 10:22 a.m. Monday and was centered about six miles (10 kilometers) southeast of York Harbor in southern Maine, the United States Geological Survey reported. It was reported at a depth of about eight miles (13 kilometers) the survey said. Officials said the quake could be felt in every state in New England and as far away as Pennsylvania. In southern Maine, many residents reported feeling houses and buildings shake as the surprising earthquake interrupted a sunny winter morning. The quake sent residents and officials in Maine and New Hampshire looking to assess any possible damage. In most cases, residents and businesses reported confusion over what had happened. Many shared stories on social media indicating they initially thought there may have been a nearby car accident or possibly an explosion. The Maine Emergency Management Agency asked residents to only call 911 in the event of an emergency. The earthquake did not appear to cause any major damage, said Vanessa Corson, a spokesperson for the agency. Corson also said local emergency management agencies did not report any damage. New Hampshire's Department of Safety said the state's 911 number did not receive any calls about damage or injuries. 'We have not received word of any issues. We've spoken with the directors at York and Cumberland County EMA, and everything seems to be in order,' Corson said. Justine Wenger, a freelance copywriter working from her Scarborough home, said she was texting with a friend when she felt the earthquake. The vibrations lasted about 30 seconds and shook her house. At first, she thought it was a passing truck, then feared her furnace might blow up so she went out onto her deck. 'I wasn't terrified, but this felt different than a normal rumbling,' she said. 'It felt substantial. There was an instinct to get out of the house.' Authorities said residents who felt the earthquake could report it to the USGS website. Earthquakes in the center and eastern parts of the U.S. are less frequent than in western states, but they are typically felt over a much broader region, the survey said on its website. It's common for there to be two small earthquakes a year in New England, the survey said. A slightly stronger earthquake based in New Jersey shook the Northeast in April. 'People in New England, and in its geological extension southward through Long Island, have felt small earthquakes and suffered damage from infrequent larger ones since colonial times,' according to the survey's website. An earthquake of close to 4.0 or slightly higher in magnitude in the Northeast states 'is not particularly common, but it's not all that rare, either,' said Maureen Long, the chair of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Yale University. Long cited the April earthquake in New Jersey as an example. A 2002 earthquake in upstate New York was measured at a magnitude of 5.1. There was also a magnitude 4.7 event near Hollis Center, Maine, in 2012, Long said. Residents of cities including Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, also reported feeling the quake. In Kennebunk, Maine, school superintendent Terri Cooper assured parents via e-mail that staff was looking through schools for any damage and everything seemed fine. 'Our operations department has checked all district buildings and systems to ensure they are in working order and no damage has been discovered,' Cooper's e-mail said.
