Erika Sherk
Northern News Services
Monday, March 12, 2007

JEAN MARIE RIVER - A Jean Marie River man has been sentenced to 14 months in jail and 20 years on the National Sex Offender Registry after being convicted of two sexual assault charges against a young teenage girl.

Gerald "Jerry" Beaulieu, 47, was convicted of assaulting the girl twice - once at her home and once at a transient centre where he was staying, both in Jean Marie River.

During the sentencing on Feb. 26, Justice Virginia Schuler said that the locations were aggravating factors in the case.

"The first assault was in the child's own home where she was entitled to feel safe," said Schuler, according to court transcripts.

The first assault occurred between Jan. 23 and March 6.

"It is also aggravating that he assaulted her a second time after luring her ... to his home with the prospect of food," she continued.

The second assault had taken place between March 10 and 12 after the man had invited the girl to his house for hamburgers.

The judge noted that while few of his previous convictions were for violent crimes, "he has continually come into conflict with the law," and has a 30-year record.

The judge said she recognized that the man has a difficult background and a history of alcohol abuse. She noted that it was his first sexual offence.

"I do take into account that he is uneducated and unsophisticated, and that was apparent when he testified at the trial," she added.

The trial took place in Fort Simpson Feb. 12, 13, and 14, according to court documents. It began with a jury but the jurors were dismissed after the accused elected to be tried by judge only.

All the factors involved do not take away from the need for "severe consequences," continued the judge in sentencing, that will send a message to the sex offender and the community that the sexual assault of children will not be tolerated in any way.

"It is troubling," said Schuler, "that he claims not even to know why he is here."

Especially, she said, when it is considered that Beaulieu has "some appreciation of the effects of sexual abuse on children," according to references to his own history of childhood abuse made when questioned by RCMP.

The man has already spent 11 months in remand and was credited for 22 months. The judge recommended three years' imprisonment in total for both charges, leaving 14 months after the remand months are subtracted.

It has been recommended that he serve his time in the NWT.