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A man with a history of child sexual abuse – including attempting to kidnap a teenage girl as she walked to school in New Sudbury – is appealing his convictions.

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Michel Albert, who has always proclaimed his innocence and says he is the victim of a conspiracy, represents himself on appeal.

As a result, Albert’s dangerous offender hearing, which was scheduled for November 4, will be delayed.

Lawyer Denis Michel, who is representing Albert at the dangerous offender hearing, told the Sudbury court the delay was necessary because of his client’s appeals.

Michel said the hearing date for the dangerous offenders could be set for Nov. 27, when the case returns to court.

Ontario Court Justice Andrew Buttazzoni found Albert guilty last year of assault causing bodily harm and false imprisonment after he attempted to kidnap a girl on Paquette Street in April 2019.

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The young girl was walking to school when Albert tried to drag her to his apartment on Paquette Street, Judge Buttazzoni ruled. Passersby who heard the young girl screaming intervened to help her.

The victim suffered pain to his cheek and ear, scratches to his back and bruising to his face, lips and knee.

Albert tried to argue that he should not be found criminally responsible because he suffered from a mental disorder that left him incapable of appreciating his actions. Michel said his client had no memory of the events of that day.

This argument, however, was rejected.

Judge Buttazzoni also found Albert guilty of two counts of assaulting police officers and resisting arrest.

Greater Sudbury police struggled to arrest Albert at his apartment after the foiled kidnapping. Albert tried to argue that those charges should be dropped because police used excessive force, but Buttazzoni rejected that constitutional argument as well.

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Albert’s sentencing was stayed because the Crown wants there to be a hearing to declare him a dangerous offender. This designation is reserved for Canada’s most violent criminals and sexual predators. Crown prosecutors can request this designation at sentencing and must demonstrate that there is a high risk that the criminal will commit violent or sexual offenses.

Judge Buttazzoni noted that the victim knew Albert before he attacked her. “She was fighting for her life,” the judge said. “His face came incredibly close to that of the accused. She recognized him as the same person she had seen five times before.

“Even though she did not know his name, she recognized him as one of the five people who lived at 1200, rue Paquette… I am convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that it was Mr. Albert who attacked (l ‘teenager) on April 4, 2019. , while she was on her way to school.

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It was also determined that the genetic material recovered from the teen’s fingernails, the judge added, came from Albert.

Buttazzoni also noted that if it weren’t for the “coincidental involvement of the good Samaritans” who came to the teen’s rescue during the attack, Albert might have managed to drag the teen to his nearby apartment.

Albert’s arrest on April 4, 2019 led to a series of other charges. As a result, it was:

– sentenced to five years in prison for performing oral sex on a six or seven year old girl whom he had known while she was sleeping more than ten years ago;

– sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for possession of child pornography. The material was discovered on a computer at Albert’s home while police were investigating the attempted kidnapping;

– sentenced to four months in prison for having committed an indecent act more than ten years ago by exposing himself to a teenager; And

– placed on probation for 18 months for sexually assaulting a child 30 years ago.

[email protected]
X: @HaroldCarmichae

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