CBC News [Canada]
October 6, 2006
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/10/06/sylvestresentencing.html
A former Roman Catholic priest has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing dozens of girls over three decades.
Charles Sylvestre, of Belle River, Ont., pleaded guilty in August to indecently assaulting 47 girls between 1954 and 1986.
Questions had been raised recently about the 84-year-old's mental fitness and a judge ordered a court-appointed psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric assessment.
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| Former Roman Catholic priest Charles Sylvestre, shown above in a court sketch, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting 47 girls over three decades Photo by CBC |
The Chatham judge determined Friday that although the former priest may suffer from slight dementia, he was fit to be sentenced.
The judge also ruled Sylvestre must provide a DNA sample for the sex offender registry and must accept a 10-year firearm prohibition.
Earlier in the hearing, Sylvestre apologized to the victims and asked for forgiveness.
The incidents took place in parishes throughout southwestern Ontario, including Windsor, London, Sarnia, Chatham-Kent and Pain Court.
Charges included indecent assault, sexual assault and sexual intercourse with a female under 14 years of age.
After Sylvestre's guilty plea, the head of the Roman Catholic diocese of London, Ont., issued a formal apology to Sylvestre's victims for failing to protect them from the priest.
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