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Catherine Valiquette sentenced to 4 years for molesting a student

Catherine Valiquette sentenced to 4 years for molesting a student


Content Warning: This story contains graphic details that may be disturbing to some.

A former teacher in Alberta has been sentenced to four years for sexually abusing a student.

The verdict was handed down in a packed Stony Plain courtroom on Friday.

Catherine Valiquette pleaded guilty to sexual assault last December.

According to the agreed statement of facts, Valiquette was a 9th grade teacher at Graminia School in Parkland County when she had a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student in April 2023.

Valiquette added a student in her science class on the social media app Snapchat, and the two began chatting for hours every day.

Court documents revealed that the nature of the chats became increasingly sexual and eventually led to a physical relationship outside of school.

Later, the victim’s brother found out about the relationship and informed his parents, who confiscated his phone.

According to the agreed statement of facts, the boy and Valiquette, who was 29 at the time, began talking in a Google Doc and developed codes between them, such as using “143” to mean “I love.” you.”

As the relationship developed, the boy cycled to meet Valiquette, who took them to the countryside in her car, where the pair engaged in sexual activity, including intercourse, the court heard.

According to the documents, a condom was not always used, and the couple often used baby wipes to clean up, discarding them at the scene.

Several of those wipes were eventually recovered from the scene by police, according to court documents.

Valiquette and the victim stopped communicating in June 2023 and the boy told his parents about the relationship that same month.

His parents reported the abuse to the RCMP and the school.

During the search, the police found Valiquette a sweater that belonged to the victim.

At first, she told the police that she contacted the boy, but did not engage in sexual relations with him.

Decision on punishment

During the sentencing hearing on Friday, the mother of four appeared in person before the court and apologized for her actions.

“What I did is contrary to what I stand for,” she told the court, adding that throughout her teaching career she has always tried to provide students with a safe and supportive environment.

“I take responsibility for my actions and once again I am very sorry.”

She has not worked as a teacher since being charged in August 2023.

The defense asked for a suspended sentence of two years minus a day with probation, while the Crown argued for a five-year sentence.

Judge Kimberly Palichuk ruled that less than two years was not an appropriate sentence, but took into account Valiquette’s early guilty plea and the remorse she had shown.

In addition to the four years in prison, Valiquette is subject to DNA testing and a weapons ban.