Lafleur's son gets community time for assault, death threats
Last Updated: Thursday, February 5, 2009 | 11:01 AM ET
CBC News
Mark Lafleur speaks to police officers outside the Montreal courtroom where a judge sentenced him to 15 months in the community. (CBC) The son of retired NHL superstar Guy Lafleur will serve a community sentence of 15 months after pleading guilty last summer to charges related to a tumultuous romantic relationship with a teenage girl.
Mark Lafleur, 23, pleaded guilty in June to 14 charges including uttering death threats, forcible confinement and assault. He was acquitted of two charges of sexual assault.
On Thursday, a judge sentenced Lafleur to 15 months served in the community plus three years of probation.
Lafleur will have to live with strict conditions, including an initial six months of house arrest to be followed by various curfews. He will not be allowed to drive or visit bars during the entire period.
Lafleur will also have to continue his therapy, which Judge Serge Boisvert said on Thursday appears to be paying dividends.
'Honestly, no matter what, it's not going to change what he did to me. The scars will always be there.'— female victim whose name is protected by a publication ban
Boisvert wished Lafleur good luck and told him it is up to him if he wants to avoid ending up back in court.
His parents, including his hockey-icon father, were in court for the sentencing and expressed relief their son had escaped jail time.
"I don't think it's the place for him after trying to so hard to improve his quality of life and it would have been the wrong choice to put him back in jail," Guy Lafleur said.
Victim still haunted by Lafleur's actions
The accusations stem from a relationship the younger Lafleur had with a 14-year-old girl, who is now 20.
The woman, whose name is protected by a publication ban, spoke to reporters outside the courtroom after the sentence was read.
"Honestly, no matter what, it's not going to change what he did to me," she said. "The scars will always be there."
Crown prosecutor Sylvie Lavergne had asked for five years in prison for Lafleur. She would not say if she will appeal.
Guy Lafleur said his son is making good progress in therapy.
"So far, so good, he's working hard at it and he's doing well so far," he said.
Senior Lafleur returns to court next week
Guy Lafleur talks to reporters Thursday after his the sentencing of his son. (CBC) Meanwhile, legal matters involving Guy Lafleur himself continue.
Lafleur, who played his first 14 NHL seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, was charged with obstructing justice after telling the court his son was obeying bail conditions by sleeping at the family home on Ile-Bizard.
However, police later discovered receipts showing Mark Lafleur had slept at a hotel.
Guy Lafleur pleaded not guilty to the charge.
A judge is expected to decide next week whether or not to throw out that case over the validity of the arrest warrant.
Guy Lafleur has also filed a civil suit for unlawful arrest after authorities issued the warrant in his name. The warrant made headlines around the world.
