Though a Sudbury man convicted of human trafficking was supposed to face sentencing in a Sudbury court on May 8, his appearance was adjourned to allow for the creation of a Gladue Report.
Paul Castonguay was convicted of eight charges on March 18, including trafficking a person under 18, as well as receiving a financial or other material benefits – derived directly or indirectly from the trafficking of a person; material benefit from sexual services; assault causing bodily harm: chokes, suffocates or strangles; two counts of assault; possession of property obtained by crime (under $5,000) and breach of undertaking.
Castonguay conceded to an additional charge of indecent acts after a video showing him exposing himself to the public was offered as evidence at his Jan. 3 appearance.
Gladue reports and Gladue letters are created as a pre‑sentencing document for the judge to consider in the cases of Indigenous offenders. It would include notes on the offender’s background such as historical factors, socio-economic and political issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, poverty, unemployment and the loss of cultural identity. Often contained in the reports/letters are recommendations for access to culturally relevant and culturally appropriate alternatives to incarceration.
The adjournment for the preparation of the Gladue report was requested by Denis Michel, lawyer for Castonguay, and approved by Justice Pierre Bradley. Once the report is finalized, Castonguay will head back to assignment court for another sentencing date.
During the trial, Crown Attorney Mathieu Ansell called three witnesses and entered several exhibits. On Jan. 3 the court heard from the complainant, as well as Det-Cst. Stephen Bradley, the lead investigator on the case. Another Crown witness testified Feb. 26. There is a publication ban on testimony from the victim in the case, as well as their identity.
Michel called no witnesses on behalf of Castonguay before resting his case.
In his decision to convict, Bradley said he accepted the complainant was a believable witness and accepted her evidence, adding that the witness testimony was simple and clear, that she acknowledged flaws in her evidence and showed a willingness to answer questions in a forthright manner.
On that basis, Bradley found that all elements of the offenses Castonguay was charged with were met.
Jenny Lamothe is a reporter with Sudbury.com.
