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INUVIK
Disgraced Inuvik school teacher Hugues Latour was found guilty Tuesday of assault, forcible entry and failing to keep the peace and be of good behaviour. However, territorial court Chief Judge Robert Gorin reserved his sentence until tomorrow morning.

These charges stem from an incident on Sept 26, 2011. Latour forced his way into a 17-year-old girl's home, pushing her into a wall in the process, because he suspected her of stealing marijuana from him.

He then searched the house and made threats toward the victim and a 15-year-old friend who was also present at the time. Latour had his son with him, who was a year-and-a-half old at the time.

The victim, now 18, testified that she and Latour, 39, had known each other previously.

During the trial, held in Inuvik, the victim and her friend both testified. Their names are protected under a publication ban because they were both minors at the time the charges were laid.

Latour took the stand in his own defence and painted a very different picture from the two girls. He said the police had been called out of spite, and he claimed he attended the residence to retrieve some keys.

Between 15 and 20 people sat in on the trial. The room seemed tense when Latour took the stand, and more than one whisper of "liar" could be heard during his testimony.

Gorin did not leave much time for suspense after the Crown and defence lawyers made their final submissions. Within seconds of Crown prosecutor Jessica Patterson wrapping up her arguments, he entered convictions on all three counts.

Gorin was careful to separate this incident from other charges relating to Latour that are still before the courts.

Latour remains in custody as he awaits a preliminary inquiry into another case before the Supreme Court of the NWT.

There he faces charges of sexual assault, sexual interference involving a person under the age of 14, possession of child pornography and making or publishing child pornography.

Latour has elected to have this case heard by judge and jury in the Supreme Court of the NWT.

After tomorrow's sentencing, he is scheduled to appear in court in Inuvik next Wednesday.

The NWT territorial court docket shows that a pre-trial inquiry and trial proceedings are scheduled for that day.

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