How Could You? Hall of Shame- Maurice Lavigueur UPDATED
[Toronto Sun 1/6/11 by Dave Johnson]Update: Another victim comes forward. “Maurice Lavigueur, 52, was arrested and charged with one count each of sexual assault, sexual exploitation and juvenile prostitution relating to a young person who was in his care.” in addition to the previous charges. “[I]investigators are looking for more victims. “”Lavigueur and his wife have been foster parents with Family and Children’s Services of Niagara since the late ‘80s. In 2007 the agency awarded the couple with 20-year service medals. It’s estimated that 90 children have stayed at the couple’s home since they became foster parents.Niagara Regional Police media officer Const. Nilan Dave said both sets of charges involved boys. He said the second alleged victim came forward as a direct result of stories in the media on the original charges.Dave said investigators are looking for more victims.
“Now that we have two allegations, we’re concerned that there may be more,” he said.
In order to protect the identify of the victims neither their ages nor the dates of the allegations are being released. However, Dave said the allegations from the latest victim to come forward date back earlier than the first allegations.
After Lavigueur was first arrested on Jan. 6, he appeared at the St. Catharines court house the following day and was released on $10,000 bail.
He is now in custody and is scheduled to appear at a bail hearing in St. Catharines on Friday at 10 a.m.
The original investigation was launched after police received information from a FACS employee who had heard allegations of abuse.
Ann Godfrey, FACS director of public relations, told This Week earlier such allegations are rare, and the agency takes them seriously, investigating them immediately.
In these situations, the children in the care of the foster parents are removed immediately, she said.
Police investigators are urging anyone with information to contact Det. Ken Wegelin of the sexual assault unit at 905-688-4111, ext. 5122.
Anonymous tips can be left with Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), sending a secure email by going online to www.crimestoppersofniagara.com or through mobile texting by sending a message to CRIMES (274637) with the text reading; NIAGARA and then the message.”
More charges for foster parent
[Niagara This Week.com 1/14/11 by Mike Zettel]
Update 2: “Welland resident Maurice Lavigueur, 52, is due back in court on Feb. 25. The Family and Children’s Services Niagara foster parent was arrested Jan. 6 and charged with two counts each of sexual assault, sexual exploitation and juvenile prostitution.
He was released on $10,000 bail on Friday after a hearing at the Robert S.K. Welsh Courthouse in St. Catharines.
His next court appearance will be Feb. 25 in Welland.”
Lavigueur back in court next month
[The Welland Tribune 2/11]
“Maurice Lavigueur will return to a Welland courtroom June 1 at 9 a.m.
Lavigueur, a former foster parent, was arrested in early January and faces charges of sexual assault, sexual exploitation and juvenile prostitution.
His court case was deferred Wednesday.”
Laviguer case back in court June 1
[The Welland Tribune 4/27/11]
Update 3: “All criminal charges laid against a longtime Welland foster parent for Family and Children’s Services Niagara have been dismissed.
Maurice Lavigueur was arrested and charged on Jan. 6, 2011, with two counts each of sexual assault, sexual exploitation and juvenile prostitution.
Less than a week later, police laid additional single counts of sexual assault, sexual exploitation and juvenile prostitution after a second complainant came forward.
The matter was resolved May 4 in a St. Catharines courtroom and all charges against Lavigueur were dismissed.
What began as a preliminary hearing for the case was converted to a trial and the case then proceeded on a trial basis, said Lavigueur’s St. Catharines attorney, Mike Delgobbo.
Mid-way through the second complainant’s allegations, the Crown asked the court to dismiss the charges, Delgobbo said.
“He’s very relieved that it’s over,” he said on behalf of his client.
A peace bond was issued, with Lavigueur agreeing not to have any contact with the two complainants.
“That is not an acknowledgement of the offences,” Delgobbo said, adding that was a fact added on record during the court proceedings.
Also put on record, Delgobbo said, was evidence that would have disputed the claims had the trial continued, including at least four character witnesses. [How can character witnesses dispute specific instances of assault unless they were there?]
“He was in a horrible position, very vulnerable,” Delgobbo said of his client, who acted as a foster parent for many years, welcoming many children into his home.
According to a Tribune story published in 2008, Lavigueur and wife Lynne have been foster parents to nearly 90 children over the past 20 years in their Welland home.
In 2008, the Lavigueur family was presented a special certificate and plaque from FACS for being outstanding foster parents.
The Lavigueurs even acted as instructors for future foster parents, Delgobbo said.
“He had a lot of support, extraordinary support from his previous foster kids,” Delgobbo said of his client.
“That reflects the type of person he is, in my opinion.”
According to Niagara Regional Police, charges will not be laid against the complainants.
No information on the complainants has been released.” [Except our original posting does list that the complainants were boys.]
Charges against foster parent dismissed
[Welland Tribune 5/15/12 by Maryanne Firth]
According to an Ontario legal firm of Ron Jourard http://www.defencelaw.com/assault-1.html, a peace bond is “a court order requiring the person to whom it is directed (defendant) to keep the peace and be of good behavior. In minor assault cases, the Crown might withdraw the charge upon the accused person entering a peace bond.
Conditions may be attached to ensure good conduct; it is usually stipulated that the defendant avoid contact with and not go near the home of the person for whose protection the bond is issued. Often, there is a requirement that the defendant not possess any firearms, ammunition or explosives.
A peace bond may be issued under section 810 of the Criminal Code or under the court’s common law jurisdiction to bind a party over to keep the peace.
Under the Criminal Code, any person who fears on reasonable grounds that another person will hurt him or her, or his or her spouse or child, or damage his or her property can apply to a justice to have that person enter a peace bond. If the court is satisfied there are reasonable grounds for the applicant’s fear, it will order the defendant to enter a recognizance to keep the peace.
A section 810 peace bond can be issued for up to a year ; a common-law peace bond for longer. Refusal to sign a section 810 bond can result in imprisonment for up to 12 months. And once entered, it is a criminal offence to violate the conditions of a section 810 peace bond. However, signing a peace bond or recognizance does not give rise to a criminal record.
According to the Crown Policy Manual, a peace bond will be accepted as an appropriate remedy in a domestic assault matter only in “the most unusual circumstances.”
REFORM Puzzle Piece
News has spread today that all charges have been dropped ! Shame on you FACS !! If this is the case GET IT IN PRINT just as you did with assisting in spreading what hundreds friends and families could NEVER believe !!!! I am not a naive person.. lived in foster care myself and very familiar with 'the system'.