Sarnia man jailed one year for sexual assault fined for refusing to do counseling

A Sarnia man convicted and sentenced more than three years ago for sexual assault continues to deny any wrongdoing – and it recently cost him.

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Paul Soulard, who was sentenced in 2021 to one year in jail and two years of probation, recently was convicted of breaching probation by not doing his sexual offender counseling. He was fined $750.

Soulard, 55, initially was charged with the sexual assault of a woman in March 2019 and a trial was held in Sarnia in October 2020. Soulard, who pleaded not guilty, admitted there was sexual activity with the woman, but said it was consensual.

Justice Anne McFadyen disagreed when she returned with her decision in January 2021.

“I find that she did not consent to engaging in this activity with Mr. Soulard,” she said at the time. “I find the Crown has proven the case against Mr. Soulard beyond a reasonable doubt.”

The judge pointed to key differences in the statement Soulard gave to a Sarnia police detective in April 2019 versus his testimony at trial 1.5 years later.

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“Mr. Soulard’s evidence lacks credibility and does not bear any scrutiny. I cannot accept his evidence,” McFadyen said during her decision.

But the woman’s testimony – she said she awoke in bed naked and in pain with no memory of how she got there after a night of drinking – was consistent and she accepted it in its entirety, the judge added. In a follow-up victim-impact statement following Soulard’s conviction, the woman said her life was ravaged by the sexual assault as she was scared of men and of being alone while dealing with feelings of depression and panic.

Meanwhile, a pre-sentence report showed Soulard had no remorse and thought the process was stupid, the prosecutor said at the time. Soulard was sentenced in May 2021.

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About three years and three months later, the retired carpenter was back in a Sarnia courtroom pleading guilty to breaching probation by not doing the counseling. Assistant Crown attorney Meaghan Jones said Soulard was given extra chances to do it, but his participation was negligible.

James Guggisberg, Soulard’s lawyer for the recent breach conviction but not during the trial, said the principle objection was his client doesn’t accept responsibility for the charge for which he was convicted. Soulard, who can barely talk due to a crushed larynx from a car crash, declined a chance to speak or write something down and have his lawyer read it.

The $750 fine was a penalty both lawyers suggested.

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