Sussex-area coach gets 6 years in prison for 3 sex crimes against young girl
Terrance Soucy, 52, found guilty of sexual assault, sexual touching and invitation to sexual touching
WARNING: This story contains details of a sexual assault against a child.
A Sussex-area coach has been sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of three sex crimes against a girl under the age of 10.
Terrance Soucy, 52, of Apohaqui, about a nine-kilometre drive southwest of Sussex, appeared in Saint John Court of King's Bench Tuesday.
A jury found Soucy guilty last month of sexual assault, sexual touching and invitation to sexual touching between June 1, 2023 and Oct. 31, 2023.
A publication ban is in place to protect the identity of the victim, who was abused by Soucy while he was a guest in her family's home.
Clutching a blanket and a teddy bear, the girl testified at trial that Soucy touched her private parts under her clothing on four separate occasions, while she played a video game on a computer in her family's living room.
The abuse escalated over the five months, culminating in Soucy "digitally penetrating her vagina and placing her hand on his inner thigh, close to his penis," Justice Arthur Doyle said during sentencing.
Soucy violated the girl's "physical, sexual and psychological integrity" while in a position of trust, he said.
The girl's young age and vulnerability increases the degree of Soucy's responsibility and moral blameworthiness, Doyle said.
Some of the other aggravating factors, the judge said, included the frequency and duration of the abuse, what he called Soucy's "planned and calculated behaviour," and the fact the abuse occurred in the victim's home, where she "ought to have felt safest."
'Life altering'
The abuse affected her whole family, Doyle said, because they've lost their sense of safety and trust.
"I have no doubt Mr. Soucy's criminal conduct has also had a terrible impact on his family as well," he said, referring to his wife and three children.
To describe the impact on all those involved as "life altering … is an understatement," the judge said.
'Well-functioning, hard-working member of society'
At the same time, the judge said he believes Soucy's prospects for rehabilitation are good.
He noted Soucy still has the support of his family and friends, and had a "generally positive" pre-sentence report.
"Much of Mr. Soucy's background suggests that he's a well-functioning, hard-working member of society on whom his family members depend," he said during the sentencing, which lasted nearly two hours.
According to the pre-sentence report, Soucy was adopted as a child, raised in a positive home environment, has never been the victim of physical or sexual abuse, and never been diagnosed with a mental illness.
Soucy completed the computer programming technology program at the New Brunswick Community College in Saint John in 1993, has worked in the computer industry for 25 years and has no criminal record. He's been married since 2000.
His wife told the parole officer who prepared the report that she felt the charges "came out of the blue," the courtroom heard.
She noted Soucy has had "extensive exposure to children in different capacities and she's never had any indication of any inappropriate sexual behaviour being exhibited."
During his testimony, Soucy described himself as a karate instructor. Social media posts indicate he was also a baseball coach and that he served on the executive of Sussex Minor Hockey.
A man who has been friends with Soucy for 25 years told the parole officer he's in "total disbelief" of the crimes Soucy has been convicted of.
He described Soucy as a "reliable, trustworthy, personable, helpful," person and "dedicated family man."
A woman who has been neighbours with Soucy for 12 years expressed "similar sentiments" to the parole officer, according to the judge. She said two of her older children regularly stayed at the Soucy home and she never had any concerns about her children being in his presence.
Gravity of offences warrant 'elevated' sentence
Still, the judge said it's his duty to impose a sentence that "reflects the gravity of the offences."
The aggravating factors in this "sad case" justify an "elevated term of incarceration," he said.
Each of the offences carries a minimum penalty of one year in jail and a maximum of 14 years in prison.
Crown prosecutor Michael Blackier had recommended a six-year sentence.
Defence lawyer Rod Macdonald had argued 26 months would be "appropriate."
Doyle sentenced Soucy to 72 months, minus 74 days of credit for the time he has spent in custody, as the victim's mother looked on from the front row, a box of Kleenex tucked beside her and the hands of two supporters on her shoulders.
The judge also ordered Soucy to provide a DNA sample, to be on the sex offender registry for 20 years, and prohibited him from possessing any weapons for 10 years.
Soucy cannot have any contact with the victim or her family, and can't be within two kilometres of where she lives.
The judge also prohibited him for life from having any contact with anyone under 16 unless supervised by someone approved by the court, with the exception of any potential grandchildren; doing any job or volunteer work that puts him in a position of trust or authority with children under 16; or attending public places children under 16 might be, such as parks, pools and school yards.
Soucy, who has maintained his innocence throughout the trial, showed no reaction to the sentence, keeping his eyes on the judge, while one of his female supporters cried.
The victim's mother said outside court her family is relieved it's over. "We can heal and be done."
Defence lawyer Rod Macdonald declined to comment after court but previously said Soucy was considering an appeal. That could include requesting he be released on bail pending that appeal.