A Shawville restaurant owner found guilty of one count of sexual assault against a former employee will appeal the decision and will make his first appearance in the provincial Court of Appeal in Montreal on Feb. 18.
The accused, an owner of Lello’s Pizza & Shawarma, was found guilty at his Oct. 1 trial of sexual assault against one former female employee.
In court documents from a testimony heard in Jan. 2023, the victim stated that the accused, on separate occasions, grabbed her hips, rubbed his pelvis against her backside, slapped her behind, massaged her, and placed a debit machine inside her back pocket while working her shift.
Also at the Oct. 1 trial, the accused and his wife faced a second sexual assault charge that was brought by another former employee, but both were acquitted of the charge.
Simon Pelletier, crown prosecutor for criminal and penal proceedings, said this case has a ban in place preventing the publication of any identifying details about the victim.
Earlier this month, Pelletier told THE EQUITY he had received the accused’s notice to appeal the decision. When THE EQUITY reached out to the accused’s defence lawyer, Dominik Robinson, for the reason behind the appeal, he said they would not comment on the case. The accused himself also declined to comment.
While the name of the accused is available in court documents, THE EQUITY has chosen not to publish it until an appeal decision has been reached.
The accused will make his initial appearance at Montreal’s Court of Appeal on Feb. 18. He is still scheduled to appear on Jan. 6 for sentencing on the initial ruling.
THE EQUITY is following this case and will provide updates to the story as they become available.
Victims of crimes, as well as family members and witnesses, can access a multitude of services through the Crime Victim Assistance Centre (CAVAC), which has an office in Campbell’s Bay. Services range from short-term counselling to advice on how the courts operate. The Campbell’s Bay office can be reached at 1-877-648-2764, or the CAVAC’s general line is at 1-866-LECAVAC (532-2822).
