WARNING: The following story contains graphic details that may not be suitable for all readers.
THUNDER BAY – A local man, labelled a “serial sexual predator” by the sentencing judge, will serve five years in jail in a historical sexual assault case.
Gary Bruce Lamont, 54, was sentenced to five years less credit for 93 days already served after previously pleading guilty to five counts of sexual assault against five male victims between the ages of 17 and 24 spanning between 1993 and 2007.
Superior Court Justice John Fregeau accepted a joint sentencing submission from Crown prosecutor Rob Kozak and defence lawyer Gil Labine, which also includes a 20-year requirement to comply with the Sex Offender Registry and a 10-year weapons prohibition.
While announcing the sentence, Fregeau said Lamont used a clear pattern to target victims and exploited circumstances for his own personal sexual gratification. The actions of Lamont caused severe psychological trauma to the victims that will be felt for the rest of their lives.
Kozak read the agreed statement of facts into the court, which detailed the case against Lamont.
A number of the victims met Lamont and then started selling marijuana for him.
Two of those victims were drugged by Lamont before being forced into anal intercourse. The third was approached in a sexually suggestive manner before being grabbed by the hair, thrown to the ground and violated.
Others lived with Lamont and did odd jobs for him, in addition to selling marijuana. They were also repeatedly sexually assaulted through anal intercourse. The victims all reported receiving threats from Lamont, who threatened bodily harm against them or their families if they approached police.
Kozak also read four victim impact statements into court. Three of them were from victims with one from the mother of one of the victims.
The statements detailed how the three victims contemplated suicide, became depressed, lost their personalities and became dependent upon drugs and alcohol in the wake of the assaults. They all difficulty maintaining relationships and struggle with intimacy.
Lamont briefly addressed the court before the sentence was imposed.
“I hope everybody, the victims, can move on from this,” he said.
Lamont previously pleaded guilty to the five charges in November 2014 on the morning of his scheduled trial. The remaining counts were withdrawn.
He was initially arrested in December 2013 with additional charges laid in February 2014 and May 2014. Had the case gone to trial he would have faced 17 charges, which included counts of forcible confinement, uttering threats and administering a dangerous or stupefying drug.
The sentence will be served in a federal penitentiary.
