Latest news with #TerranceSoucy
CBC
21-05-2025
- CBC
Sussex-area coach gets 6 years in prison for 3 sex crimes against young girl
WARNING: This story contains details of a sexual assault against a child. A Sussex-area coach has been sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of three sex crimes against a girl under the age of 10. Terrance Soucy, 52, of Apohaqui, about a nine-kilometre drive southwest of Sussex, appeared in Saint John Court of King's Bench Tuesday. A jury found Soucy guilty last month of sexual assault, sexual touching and invitation to sexual touching between June 1, 2023 and Oct. 31, 2023. A publication ban is in place to protect the identity of the victim, who was abused by Soucy while he was a guest in her family's home. Clutching a blanket and a teddy bear, the girl testified at trial that Soucy touched her private parts under her clothing on four separate occasions, while she played a video game on a computer in her family's living room. The abuse escalated over the five months, culminating in Soucy "digitally penetrating her vagina and placing her hand on his inner thigh, close to his penis," Justice Arthur Doyle said during sentencing. WATCH | Judge says Soucy has good chance of rehabilitation: Sussex-area man gets prison sentence for sexual assault of a minor Duration 1:46 Terrance Soucy of Apohaqui appeared in the Court of King's Bench in Saint John on Tuesday, where he was sentenced for committing sex crimes against a girl. Soucy violated the girl's "physical, sexual and psychological integrity" while in a position of trust, he said. The girl's young age and vulnerability increases the degree of Soucy's responsibility and moral blameworthiness, Doyle said. Some of the other aggravating factors, the judge said, included the frequency and duration of the abuse, what he called Soucy's "planned and calculated behaviour," and the fact the abuse occurred in the victim's home, where she "ought to have felt safest." 'Life altering' The abuse affected her whole family, Doyle said, because they've lost their sense of safety and trust. "I have no doubt Mr. Soucy's criminal conduct has also had a terrible impact on his family as well," he said, referring to his wife and three children. To describe the impact on all those involved as "life altering … is an understatement," the judge said. 'Well-functioning, hard-working member of society' At the same time, the judge said he believes Soucy's prospects for rehabilitation are good. He noted Soucy still has the support of his family and friends, and had a "generally positive" pre-sentence report. "Much of Mr. Soucy's background suggests that he's a well-functioning, hard-working member of society on whom his family members depend," he said during the sentencing, which lasted nearly two hours. According to the pre-sentence report, Soucy was adopted as a child, raised in a positive home environment, has never been the victim of physical or sexual abuse, and never been diagnosed with a mental illness. Soucy completed the computer programming technology program at the New Brunswick Community College in Saint John in 1993, has worked in the computer industry for 25 years and has no criminal record. He's been married since 2000. The Sussex RCMP charged Terrance Soucy last year with three sex offences involving a child under the age of 10. (CBC) His wife told the parole officer who prepared the report that she felt the charges "came out of the blue," the courtroom heard. She noted Soucy has had "extensive exposure to children in different capacities and she's never had any indication of any inappropriate sexual behaviour being exhibited." During his testimony, Soucy described himself as a karate instructor. Social media posts indicate he was also a baseball coach and that he served on the executive of Sussex Minor Hockey. A man who has been friends with Soucy for 25 years told the parole officer he's in "total disbelief" of the crimes Soucy has been convicted of. He described Soucy as a "reliable, trustworthy, personable, helpful," person and "dedicated family man." A woman who has been neighbours with Soucy for 12 years expressed "similar sentiments" to the parole officer, according to the judge. She said two of her older children regularly stayed at the Soucy home and she never had any concerns about her children being in his presence. Gravity of offences warrant 'elevated' sentence Still, the judge said it's his duty to impose a sentence that "reflects the gravity of the offences." The aggravating factors in this "sad case" justify an "elevated term of incarceration," he said. Each of the offences carries a minimum penalty of one year in jail and a maximum of 14 years in prison. Crown prosecutor Michael Blackier had recommended a six-year sentence. Defence lawyer Rod Macdonald had argued 26 months would be "appropriate." Doyle sentenced Soucy to 72 months, minus 74 days of credit for the time he has spent in custody, as the victim's mother looked on from the front row, a box of Kleenex tucked beside her and the hands of two supporters on her shoulders. The judge also ordered Soucy to provide a DNA sample, to be on the sex offender registry for 20 years, and prohibited him from possessing any weapons for 10 years. Soucy cannot have any contact with the victim or her family, and can't be within two kilometres of where she lives. The judge also prohibited him for life from having any contact with anyone under 16 unless supervised by someone approved by the court, with the exception of any potential grandchildren; doing any job or volunteer work that puts him in a position of trust or authority with children under 16; or attending public places children under 16 might be, such as parks, pools and school yards. Soucy, who has maintained his innocence throughout the trial, showed no reaction to the sentence, keeping his eyes on the judge, while one of his female supporters cried. The victim's mother said outside court her family is relieved it's over. "We can heal and be done." Defence lawyer Rod Macdonald declined to comment after court but previously said Soucy was considering an appeal. That could include requesting he be released on bail pending that appeal.
CBC
20-05-2025
- CBC
Sussex-area man gets prison sentence for sexual assault of a minor
Terrance Soucy of Apohaqui appeared in the Court of King's Bench in Saint John on Tuesday, where he was sentenced for committing sex crimes against a girl.
CBC
12-05-2025
- CBC
'Why did this happen to me?': Young sexual assault victim speaks at man's sentencing
Social Sharing WARNING: This story contains details of a sexual assault against a child. A young girl and her parents say their trust is forever broken after she was sexually assaulted by Terrance Soucy, 52, of Apohaqui, while he was a guest in their home. "I trusted him so much, and now it's really hard for me to trust people," the victim told the Court of King's Bench in Saint John on Monday, reading her victim impact statement aloud. "I only feel safe with my family and my best friend," she said. A jury found Soucy guilty April 1 of sexual assault, sexual touching and invitation to sexual touching. During his testimony, Soucy described himself as a karate instructor. Social media posts indicate he was also a baseball coach and that he served on the executive of Sussex Minor Hockey. 4 incidents in 2023 A publication ban is in place to protect the identity of the girl, who was under the age of 10 when the incidents occurred. Clutching a blanket and a teddy bear, she previously testified that Soucy touched her private parts under her clothing on four separate occasions in 2023. In each instance, she said, she was playing a video game on a computer in her family's living room when Soucy sat down beside her. Felt sad, scared, confused "What happened to me made me feel really sad, scared, and confused," the victim said Monday, during Soucy's sentencing hearing. "I kept asking myself, 'Why did this happen to me?' I felt mad and hurt inside," she said. "For a long time, I thought what he did was somehow my fault." She wore big hoodies to try to hide her body, she said. "I didn't want anyone to look at me. … I didn't want to be seen." She cried a lot, didn't eat much because her stomach "hurt all the time," and suffered night terrors. At school, she had a hard time focusing, and she was too afraid to go anywhere else because she feared she would see him, she said. "Just hearing his name made me feel really nervous and shaky." Entire family affected, mother says The entire family has been affected, the girl's mother told the court. They all had to watch her "go through something no child should ever have to face." "I saw her pull away from us, have emotional outbursts, and cry uncontrollably," she said, noting she got called at work two or three times a week to pick her up from school or help calm her down, and drove her to numerous medical appointments in Fredericton to try to "figure out what was going on with her." I watched my little girl slowly lose parts of who she used to be. - Victim's mother "I watched my little girl slowly lose parts of who she used to be." The ordeal has also had a "huge impact" on her personally — emotionally, physically and financially, she said. She needed a prescription to help with anxiety and counselling to help her understand this wasn't her fault. "I let Terry into our home," the mother said. "I trusted him. … And he broke that trust in the worst way. He didn't just hurt us — he tore apart the sense of safety and trust we had. "Now, I struggle to trust anyone. I've built a wall around myself, and honestly, I don't know if I'll ever be able to let it down again." The girl's father said it's been like a nightmare he can't wake up from. Soucy has broken their trust forever, he said. "We will never forget." Crown seeks 6-year sentence Crown prosecutor Michael Blackier is seeking a six-year prison sentence, citing the gravity of the offence, the moral blameworthiness of Soucy, the impact on the victim and her family, and case law, including a Supreme Court of Canada case. "There's a clear message that needs to be sent that for denunciation and deterrence, both specific and general, for the accused and for society, to understand that the courts are going to take a strong approach to this type of offence," he said. Defence lawyer Rod Macdonald argued two years would be an "appropriate sentence," and cautioned against assessing lack of remorse as an aggravating factor, "in a case where a verdict is not accepted and appeal is being contemplated." Soucy speaks Soucy maintains his innocence and reiterated this when he addressed the court Monday. "I have great remorse for how these events have impacted my family, my friends, and my community," he said from the prisoner's box, as four women supporters looked on from the front row. "It is my sincerest hope that the victim receives the assistance she needs to guide her through this and overcome any trauma experienced over the past couple of years," he said. "I acknowledge that I have been convicted of these crimes, but we do not agree with the decision of the jury, and I'll maintain my innocence of these charges." Justice Arthur Doyle set over sentencing until May 20. He previously noted the minimum sentence for each of the charges is one year in jail. Soucy remains remanded in custody. Outside court, the girl's mother told reporters no matter how long a sentence Soucy gets, it's "not going to fix anything." He took a young girl's "innocence away," and it's been "two years of hell" for the family, she said.
CBC
01-04-2025
- CBC
Sexual assault case against Sussex-area karate coach now in hands of Saint John jury
Social Sharing WARNING: This story contains details of an alleged sexual assault on a child. The jury in a sexual assault case involving a child is now deliberating the case in Saint John. Terrance Soucy, 52, of Apohaqui is on trial on three charges — sexual assault, sexual touching and inviting the complainant to touch him sexually. Soucy is a karate instructor and has been involved in other youth sports in Sussex as a coach and organizer. A publication ban is in place to protect the identity of the girl, who was under the age of 10 when the incidents allegedly occurred. Defence sees inconsistencies In closing arguments, defence lawyer Rod Macdonald went first and pointed out some inconsistencies in the testimony of Crown witnesses concerning dates. He said jurors would have to decide whether what the young complainant said happened was "a physical impossibility." Macdonald also reminded jurors that the male DNA found on the girl's underwear did not match Soucy. He asked jurors if they would want a family member of theirs to be convicted "on evidence like this." Crown says complainant never wavered Crown prosecutor Michael Blackier began his argument by saying the complainant "never wavered" in identifying Soucy or what he did. He said the "peripheral issues" don't matter. What matters, Blackier said, is that she said Soucy touched her private parts under her clothing. When she testified on Friday, the complainant said Soucy touched her on four occasions, including three occasions in quick succession beginning in June 2023. All the assaults are alleged to have happened in the girl's home while she played a video game. Differing dates According to the testimony, the final incident occurred on Oct. 9, 2023. The complainant said she was playing Roblox on a computer in the family's living room when Soucy came in and sat beside her. She said he put his hands down her pants and touched her private parts. Soucy stopped when a teenage family friend entered the room, the girl said. While testifying last week, the teenage witness said she only saw Soucy pull back from the girl. She said she didn't see his hands on the girl or her hands on him. The teen originally told the RCMP investigator she saw Soucy and the girl together on Oct. 8, 2023, but testifying last week, she said it was Oct. 7. Other witnesses said the Soucys were in the house on Oct. 7 and Oct. 9, but nothing inappropriate was alleged to have occurred on Oct. 7, when the teenage witness was present. There was no mention of her having been at the house on Oct. 9, when the incident is alleged to have occurred. 2 jurors sent home In his two-hour charge to the jury, Justice Arthur Doyle summarized the case and gave jurors instructions on how to apply the law to the case, including the difference between reasonable doubt and credibility. After his summation, Doyle sent the jury to begin deliberations, but not before dismissing two of them. Fourteen jurors were sworn in on March 26, the first day of the trial. On Tuesday, Doyle explained that the Criminal Code sets the maximum number of jurors who can deliberate at 12. With that, the clerk of the court reached into an envelope that contained 14 numbers and randomly selected two. Doyle then thanked the two jurors for their time and service and told them they were free to go. The remaining 12 jurors were then sequestered without cellphones, computers or other "communication devices" until they reach a unanimous verdict — or until the judge is satisfied they are unable to agree on a verdict and further deliberations would be useless.
CBC
28-03-2025
- CBC
Sussex-area sports coach denies sexually assaulting child under 10
Social Sharing WARNING: This story contains details of an alleged sexual assault on a child. A jury trial in Saint John heard testimony from the young complainant and the accused on Friday. Terrance Soucy, 52, of Apohaqui is on trial on three charges — sexual assault, sexual touching and inviting the complainant to touch him sexually. A publication ban is in place to protect the identity of the girl, who was under the age of 10 when the incidents are alleged to have occurred. Clutching a blanket and a teddy bear, the girl testified in court that Soucy touched her private parts on four separate occasions in 2023 when he was a guest at her family's home. In each instance, she said she was playing the same video game on a computer in her family's living room when Soucy sat down beside her. After the final incident in October 2023, she said she confronted Soucy in messages sent through Facebook, starting with two audio clips that were played for the court. In them, she said, "I was mean to you today 'cause … I don't want you touching me in a bad way." She then sent a typed message that said, "I need to tell cause my dad has cameras on his living room." Soucy replied, "Need to tell what? "Oh my gosh … If I made you feel uncomfortable in any way, I am so sorry. I honestly didn't mean to." The girl responded, "I [do] not care." The complainant wasn't always certain in her testimony about the dates when things are alleged to have happened. After the girl finished testifying Friday morning, Justice Arthur Doyle told the jury that children sometimes perceive the world differently than adults, including dates and lengths of time. Accused took the stand During his testimony, Soucy described himself as a karate instructor. Social media posts indicate he was also a baseball coach and that he served on the executive of Sussex Minor Hockey. He strongly denied each of the allegations against him. "I didn't do it. It's hard to hear, but I didn't do it. I didn't do any of it," he said in court. Under cross-examination, Crown prosecutor Michael Blackier asked him about the messages exchanged through Facebook the day before the incident was reported to police. Soucy said the comments were not about touching the girl. He was the only defence witness called by his lawyer, Rod Macdonald. The jury was sent home until Tuesday morning, when closing arguments are expected to begin. They were told to come with an overnight bag in case they have to be sequestered during deliberations.
