Day parole has been refused to a Bathurst man who was found guilty of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl and was considered a high risk of reoffending.
After completing 16 months of a seven-year sentence, 45-year-old Steven Laurette applied for parole.
Laurette, of South Tetagouche in the Bathurst region, was in a position of authority over the victim and exploited her tumultuous relationship with her father, the court heard during the 2023 trial.
This month, the Parole Board of Canada ruled that Laurette had “many sexual contacts” with the girl after “groomed” her and gave her drugs and alcohol. Using a different inmate’s account, Laurette called the girl while she was awaiting trial on the accusation and warned her not to testify in court or she “would regret it.” The board concluded that Laurette is very likely to commit another crime, denied any wrongdoing, and failed to take any action to address his “sexual misconduct.” “The Board believes that by having sex with a minor, you acted on sexually perverted thoughts.”
Laurette was also “considered as manipulative and presenting with inappropriate sexual attitudes due to the element of grooming the victim,” according to the report. The board recommended that Laurette be “appropriately watched” whenever he is discharged to make sure he is not alone with ladies less than sixteen. The report mentioned a history of probation order violations in addition to the sexual concerns, which “puts into doubt your willingness and capacity to abide by conditions of release.” Add to that a number of institutional violations, such as “using THC for self-medication, making improper remarks, and being argumentative and hostile toward personnel.” According to the story, police are also worried about Laurette’s possible release.
“Given that your sexual disorders are still untreated, that you have not assumed any duties, and that you have not made any progress in treating your risk factors, local police in all areas are not supportive of a conditional release.” The report’s next part, which has been redacted, discusses an anonymous police force’s worries that Laurette would be subject to “retribution from others in the neighbourhood should you return to that community.”
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