Investigators submit more sexual assault charges against 25-year-old man

The Sherbrooke Police Service (SPS) has informed the public that its investigators have submitted new underage sexual assault charges against Raphaël Bélisle to the Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales (DPCP).

In a press release, the SPS noted its criminal investigation unit arrested the 25-year-old Bélisle on Sept. 6 over sexual assault allegations involving two victims under the age of 16 years old. The SPS investigators had said at the time that the suspect may have had other victims.

Bélisle was involved in the local scout community. And he was an elementary school teacher for the Centre de services (CSS) scolaire des Hauts-cantons. He was also acting as a foster family for the Direction de la protection de la jeunesse (DPJ). The investigation is ongoing.

However, the SPS added it will not reveal any more information about the case out of respect for the court. Although, the police service noted that, through its work with criminal prosecutor and the DPJ, more charges may be laid in the future. Several victims have been identified.

The SPS urges anyone with information, or who may have been one of Bélisle’s victims, to call 819821-5555. The gestion des enquêtes sur les crimes en série (GECS), a serial crime unit, has been activated since there is more than one victim, as well as the Sûreté du Québec (SQ).

It is a sensitive case and one that demands a unique command structure, according to the SPS. It involves a partnership between the provincial police services to identify and arrest crimes committed by sexual predators. The partnership allows for a pooling of resources.