Former Yarmouth Priest Granted Full Parole on November 2012 Conviction for Indecent Assaults

Nova News
December 22, 2014

http://www.novanewsnow.com/News/Local/2014-12-22/article-3985827/Former-Yarmouth-priest-granted-full-parole-on-November-2012-conviction-for-indecent-assaults/1

Former Yarmouth priest Albert LeBlanc during a prior court appearance in Yarmouth before his November 2012 sentencing. VANGUARD FILE PHOTO

A former Yarmouth County priest who was sentenced in November 2012 after pleading guilty to sexually abusing six young boys dating back to the mid 1960s to the earlier 1980s has been granted full parole.

Albert LeBlanc – who was 83 years old when he was sentenced in a Yarmouth courtroom to five-and-a-half years in prison – was granted full parole in early December.

The victims of his crimes have been made aware of the Parole Board of Canada’s decision.

As part of his parole conditions, LeBlanc must immediately report all intimate relationships and friendships with females and males who have parental responsibility for male children under the age of 18.

He is not to be in the presence of any male children under the age of 18 unless he is accompanied by a responsible adult who knows of his criminal history and has been previously approved in writing by his parole supervisor.

And he is not to have any contact, direct or indirect, with his victims or their families.

LeBlanc, who was living in Bouctouche, New Brunswick, at the time of his guilty pleas, was a priest in several parishes in Yarmouth County – Notre Dame, Melbourne and Pinkneys Point – during the 1960s until 1973. In 1973 he chose to leave the priesthood. Afterwards he worked as a caseworker with Family and Children Services and then as a probation officer.

Decades ago LeBlanc was well liked and was considered a leader in the community. He was actively involved in the foundation of the Notre Dame Youth Centre and the Boys Club of Yarmouth and also was involved in athletics. He coached minor hockey and organized trips to Boston for altar boys, young hockey players and others in the community to watch NHL games.

It was during his time as a priest that most of his victims came to spend time with him. They were altar boys. And since LeBlanc was held in high esteem in the community he was in a position of trust and no one suspected that he would do anything to harm children.

But harm them he did, the court heard in great detail two years ago as the Crown outlined victim by victim the abuse they suffered at the hands of LeBlanc. For some victims the abuse began when they were seven or eight years old. For many it continued until the time they were teenagers and could finally stand up to their abuser and say stop it.

LeBlanc had pleaded guilty to six counts of indecent assault in relation to offences committed against young boys in the 1960s, ‘70s and ’80s.

When LeBlanc had entered guilty pleas on what was to have been the opening day of his trial, family and friends of the six victims applauded inside the courtroom, displaying their relief that a trial would not go ahead, and also that the accused would be punished for his actions.

In today’s justice system, the six charges LeBlanc pleaded guilty to would fall under the umbrella of sexual assault. But at the time these offences were committed, sexual assault did not yet exist in the Criminal Code. Back then it was called indecent assault.

At the time of his sentencing Judge James Burrill had said in court, “Make no mistake, Albert LeBlanc during this time was a sexual predator. Make no mistake that Albert LeBlanc is going to answer for those crimes today. And make mistake he is going to jail.”

LeBlanc was granted day parole in June 2014.

Reads the recent parole board decision: “Your score on the Statistical Recidivism Scale is +25, which indicated that four out of five offenders with traits similar to yours will not commit an indictable offence within three years of release,” reads the parole board decision.

The board says during an assessment carried out in December 2013 LeBlanc denied any sexual attraction to young boys or teenagers in spite of his offences.

The parole board states it does not feel that full parole poses an inacceptable risk to society, and states that full parole protects society by facilitating LeBlanc’s reintegration as a law-abiding citizen.

In April 2010 the RCMP launched an investigation following complaints made to them and LeBlanc was arrested at his home in January 2011. Initially he was charged with 40 counts of indecent assault and gross indecency. The number of charges before the court later climbed to 50. After the guilty pleas other charges were withdrawn.