Coteau-du-Lac resident Emmanuel Arial was found guilty on two charges, including obtaining, for a fee, the sexual services of a person under the age of 18. He was sentenced on Thursday to six months' imprisonment, in addition to being registered as a sex offender for 20 years.

The offence took place on October 4, 2023, when the man solicited the services of an escort via an Internet site. However, it appears that the woman in question was only 16 years old.

“On October 3, I visited an 18+ legal escort site and selected the profile of a woman who looked to be 20 years old. We exchanged a few text messages and arranged to meet. She mentioned she was 16 a few times, but I ignored her age because I was too excited about what was about to happen. At the time, I wasn't thinking with my head,” he told judge Marie-Chantal Doucet, a few minutes before his sentencing. 

Accompanied by members of his family, the Coteaulacois suggested that it was a moment of absent-mindedness on his part. “This mistake will haunt me for the rest of my life,” he added.

Considering the low risk of recidivism and the expression of remorse considered sincere, Judge Doucet sentenced Arial to six months' imprisonment, followed by two years' probation, during which he will have to abide by a host of conditions.

Among these conditions is a ban on being in the presence of minors, in private places, unless an adult responsible for the child and aware of the present condition is present.

The accused will also be required to provide a DNA sample and will be registered as a sex offender for 20 years.