Police officer Annie Pinard is serving a four-month prison sentence to be served in the community for producing a false document and obstructing justice.
The Sergeant of the Sûreté du Québec was found guilty by Judge Jacques Ladouceur, last March, of facts that took place in 2018 in the Far North of Quebec.
While stationed in Kuujjuaq, Annie Pinard had written a report which falsely implied that she had spoken with an informant in order to obtain a warrant on an alleged drug trafficker in the community.
During the trial held in Val-d’Or last January and February, it was proved that Agent Pinard had never met this informant or discussed it with him. She had rather relied on exchanges by messaging between this individual and another informant with whom she was in contact.
Absolution dismissed
In his sentence handed down on Friday, Judge Ladouceur dismissed the defense’s suggestion to offer the policewoman a discharge. He considers that this suggestion does not meet the criteria of the public interest, citing as aggravating factors the accused’s position as a police officer, the fact that the actions were taken to the detriment of her employer and a colleague, and that she persisted in her actions.
The prosecution had requested a nine-month suspended prison sentence. The judge ruled for four months, citing in particular as mitigating factors the accused’s lack of legal or ethical history, her remarkable training profile and her involvement in the community.
Annie Pinard will also have to perform 50 hours of community service during her suspended sentence, in addition to 190 hours upon her release, during a 24-month probationary period.
Source: Radio-Canada
