Local man convicted of sexual assault

A Barrhead man who sexually assaulted a woman while she slept will go to jail for the next five months.

At a sentencing hearing in Barrhead Provincial Court Aug. 22, Dennis James Meunier, 53, was sentenced to five months in jail by Judge John Higgerty — Meunier pleaded guilty to the 2015 sexual assault June 8, at which time a charge of break and enter with intent was withdrawn by the Crown.

In addition to the jail time and a $100 fine, Meunier must submit a sample of his DNA and will be registered in the federal sexual assault database for 10 years. A publication ban bars the Leader from identifying the victim.

“It was a difficult situation,” said Judge Higgerty following a 15-minute recess where he reviewed a pre-sentence report and victim impact statement.

“Sadly, because of my experience over the years, I knew what the victim’s impact statement would contain — their feelings, fears and while I undersand that Mr. Meunier might feel awful about his actions. Unfortunately, he cannot undo the damage he has done. I hope the victim is able to overcome her personal demons and that their quality of life will return.

“I decided on the five-month sentence and I firmly believe Mr. Meunier will not do something like this again. But in the interest of the public, sentences such as this must serve as a deterrence and must send a message.”

Defence lawyer Rod Gregory said his client was invited to a party on Aug. 1, 2015.

However, Crown prosecutor Jeff Morrison noted Meunier had left the gathering at some point and then returned drunk while everyone was asleep, whereupon the sexual assault occurred.

Morrison asked for a six-to-nine-month sentence, while Gregory said his client had made numerous attempts to apologize through the probation office, was remorseful and had no recollection of the events.

“It wasn’t about his feelings,” Morrison countered. “This was a serious sexual assault. His victim was asleep and he [Meunier] came into their house uninvited, unannounced. What would the public think if such a person got off with a light sentence doing something this vile in what the defence argued was a ‘drunken stupor’? Denunciation and deterrence of this type of criminal behaviour is of paramount importance.”