The 71-year-old man was however acquitted about another plaintiff.

The victims demanded the removal of the publication ban that protects their identity.

This was the case of Josh Seanosky and Marc Levasseur, who incited collective action against the pastor, and the Baptist churches in which he worked.

Delay

The reading of the verdict began two hours late, his lawyer entering the wrong date in his diary.

Judge Christian Boulet did not read his entire judgment, as it spanned more than a hundred pages.

However, he indicated that the corrections applied by the pastor exceeded what the law permitted him.

Immediately committal declined

After hearing the verdict, the prosecution’s attorney, Me Sonia Lapointe, called for Guillot’s immediate detention. However, the request was denied by the judge.

That’s why Guillot left the courthouse on condition of release for now.

The motion for committal pending sentencing submissions will be heard on April 14.

Until that time, the judge had not assigned Guillot to his home, but he should not have left Quebec’s judicial district.

Actions over three decades

The victims were between 4 and 11 years old when their parents entrusted them to Guillot, to educate them.

In some cases, the men have been under Guillot’s influence for more than 12 years.

The actions allegedly against Claude Guillot took place over three decades, first at a Baptist school in Victoriaville, where he was expelled because of his teaching methods.

He then admitted students to his residence in the Chauveau district, in Quebec, where he built a secret school in the basement.