'Shocking breach of trust': Former Windsor denturist sent to jail for sexual assault
A former Windsor denturist is being sent to jail for sexual assault.
Warning: contains graphic content
Mario Mouamer, 47, was previously convicted of 13 counts of sexual assault against ten former patients.
Although the prosecutor wanted a prison term of 42 months, Justice King sentenced Mouamer to a term of 15 months in jail.
“It is clear from the evidence in this case that all of the victims in this case have significant emotional impact as a result of these offences,” Justice George King said Wednesday during his sentencing in Superior court.
During the trial, over 30 days, all ten victims testified about actions by Mouamer during a denture fitting appointments.
Court heard Mouamer would stand behind the patients for a visual inspection.
“While this was occurring, he would press his groin area into their buttocks,” Justice King said Wednesday. “This action was accompanied by a grinding, gyrating or thrusting of his groin area.”
Justice King gave Mouamer credit for being a middle-aged, first time offender who outside of the offences in the case had lived a pro-social life.
He also noted the offences did not include any touching underneath clothes or physical penetration.
The judge however couldn’t agree with the defence’s request for house arrest given the gravity of the offences, the number of complainants and the need for general deterrence.
“The dominant element of this case is the shocking breach of trust inherent in the commission of these offences.” Justice King said. "Mr. Mouamer took advantage of his position of authority and trust as a denturist to advance his own sexual interests and purposes."
After the sentence, Mouamer was handcuffed and taken into custody.
“We of course are disappointed that it's real jail, and we were very hopeful for a conditional sentence,” defence lawyer Laura Joy told CTV News outside court. “He has aging parents that he is a primary caregiver for, and as his honor (Justice King) indicated, this is a pro-social, mature individual that had a lot of support in the community.”
During the trial, the court allowed Mouamer to relocate to New Brunswick to care of his parents.
Joy asked for house arrest – in part – so he could continue to care for his family while serving his sentence.
She also told CTV News her client will never be a practicing denturist ever again.
“Mr. Mouamer has ascertained his innocence through this trial,” Joy said. “He apologized for any hardship he has caused the complainants. It certainly wasn't his intention.”
Some of the victims were in court for today’s sentencing.
At least one of them scoffed when King sentenced Mouamer to 15 months in jail.
A court-order publication ban on identifying the victims remains in place permanently, even though the court case is now concluded.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE NOW Canada to launch 'national action plan' to fight auto theft
The federal government is launching what it calls its 'national action plan' to combat auto thefts, which will include stronger penalties for thieves, and increased information sharing between police agencies, government officials and border enforcement.
U.S. Supreme Court rejects appeal from former Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by a Canadian-born former Guantanamo detainee who was seeking to wipe away his war crimes convictions, including for killing a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan.
Iran's president and foreign minister die in helicopter crash at moment of high tensions in Mideast
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country's foreign minister were found dead Monday hours after their helicopter crashed in fog, leaving the Islamic Republic without two key leaders as extraordinary tensions grip the wider Middle East.
Jury finds Andrei Donet guilty of second-degree murder in stabbing death of Montreal teen
A jury has found a 21-year-old man guilty of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Montreal teenager Jannai Dopwell-Bailey outside his school in 2021.
What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend? An expert explains
If you've been to a party lately and haven't seen someone drinking a BORG, you're likely not partying with college students.
The world's best airline is paying staff a bonus of 8 months' salary
Singapore Airlines will reward its employees with a bonus worth nearly eight months of salary, a person familiar with the matter told CNN on Friday.
Woman, 35, in critical condition after her truck collided with a Via Rail train near Montreal
A 35-year-old woman is in critical condition after the pick-up truck she was driving was struck by a Via Rail passenger train Monday morning in Quebec's Monteregie region.
Investors watching posts from 'Crytpo King' in the wake of fraud, money laundering charges
Former investors of the self-styled “Crypto King” say they are watching his social media accounts and worried his displays of wealth are signs he’s spending their money, even now, as another large expense tied to Aiden Pleterski has triggered a previously unreported lawsuit.
Britain slammed in inquiry for infecting thousands with tainted blood and covering up the scandal
British authorities and the country's public health service knowingly exposed tens of thousands of patients to deadly infections through contaminated blood and blood products, and hid the truth about the disaster for decades, an inquiry into the U.K.'s infected blood scandal found Monday.