Teacher Gets Jail on Appeal

(Shediac, New Brunswick) In November 2005, a 27-year-old teacher at Ecole Pere Edgar T. LeBlanc, Renee Florence Gaudet, pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a 13-year-old male student.

In January 2006, Gaudet was sentenced to two years house arrest and told to go to a mental health clinic for assessment and necessary treatment. She was also restricted from having any contact with the victim, his family, or anyone under 14 years of age.

Gaudet's sentence of house arrest was appealed by Crown Attorney Stephen Holt as too lenient. Holt argued that a male teacher convicted of the same crime would have been sent to prison.

This week, the Court of Appeals in New Brunswick agreed and ordered Gaudet to complete the remainder of her sentence behind bars. On Wednesday, Gaudet surrendered herself to authorities. She has 15 months left to serve.