24 January 2008

Man Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Child

Repeat offenders such as this: ought they to receive the label "dangerous offender"?

39-year-old man guilty of molesting boy
By STEVE BRUCE Court Reporter Thu. Jan 24 - 5:43 AM
A convicted pedophile has admitted molesting a young boy over a five-month period.
Roger Edouard Mercier, 39, of Dartmouth pleaded guilty Tuesday in Halifax provincial court to charges of sexual assault and failing to comply with a police undertaking to stay away from anyone under the age of 16. The offences took place between Sept. 1, 2006, and Jan. 23, 2007.
Mr. Mercier, who is in custody at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Dartmouth, returns to court Monday. At that time, the Crown is expected to request that he be transferred to the neighbouring East Coast Forensic Hospital for an assessment of his risk to reoffend.
The results of that assessment will determine whether the Crown applies to have Mr. Mercier declared a dangerous offender and imprisoned indefinitely.
Mr. Mercier, a former school teacher in the Annapolis Valley, was convicted at trial last summer of sexually assaulting a seven-year-old Dartmouth girl in 2005. He was given double credit for the eight months and two days he had spent on remand and sentenced to time already served.

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