Former student sentenced for privacy violation at École L'Oiseau-Bleu

Tashi Farmilo

In a case that has shaken the Gatineau community, Matthias Deschenes, now 19, was recently sentenced to an 18-month community sentence for installing a camera in a girls' bathroom at École L'Oiseau-Bleu, his former elementary school. The incident, which occurred last year, led to Deschenes' arrest after the camera was discovered in the ceiling of the bathroom.

Deschenes pleaded guilty to charges of breaking and entering and voyeurism in January. Along with his community sentence, he was also given two years' probation and is required to submit a DNA sample to the authorities. As part of his probation, Deschenes is prohibited from being in parks or other public areas where children under 16 are present or likely to be. He is also barred from accepting employment or volunteer positions that would give him authority over children under 16.

The discovery of the camera prompted a thorough investigation by the Gatineau police, who confirmed that Deschenes was a former student of the rue Nelligan school. Fortunately, no other cameras were found on the premises, and there is no indication that any images recorded by the device were accessed or shared.

This case highlights the importance of ensuring the safety and privacy of children in educational settings and the swift action taken by law enforcement and the judicial system in addressing such violations. This information was supplemented by reports from Radio-Canada.

Photo caption: École L'Oiseau-Bleu, a local elementary school in Gatineau, became the centre of a disturbing privacy violation when a camera was installed in the girls' bathroom, leading to a recent 18-month community sentence for the perpetrator, former student Matthias Deschenes. 

Photo credit: Screenshot of Google Maps