Pierre Defoy is escorted into the Quebec City courthouse. (Jacques Boissinot/Canadian Press)

A man who grabbed an eight-year-old boy in broad daylight will undergo a psychiatric evaluation to see if he should be declared a dangerous offender, subject to a longer prison term.

In August, Pierre Defoy pleaded guilty to charges of kidnapping, forcible confinement and sexual assault. On Tuesday, he was back at the Quebec City courthouse for sentencing arguments.

In July 2008, Defoy grabbed the boy near the family's home in Lévis, south of Quebec City, and put him in the trunk of his car. Defoy then drove to Quebec City.

Less than 30 minutes later, a witness, Ryan Murphy, was sitting in traffic when he saw the trunk of the car stopped ahead of him pop open. Murphy caught a glimpse of a boy in the trunk before the car sped off. He followed the car to an apartment building, where the driver took the boy inside.

Murphy called police, who found the boy bound, gagged and locked in a nearly empty heating oil tank in the basement.

Faces other charges

During sentencing arguments Tuesday, Crown prosecutor Valérie Lahaie described Defoy's actions as "brutal" and enough to have him declared a dangerous offender. She said Defoy is facing charges over two similar incidents, in 1990 and 2005.

Judge Richard Grenier agreed with Lahaie, calling the case "barbaric." He ordered Defoy to have a psychiatric assessment.

Lahaie said the results of that assessment will influence her recommendation for sentencing. The maximum penalty for kidnapping is life imprisonment.

The boy's mother, who cannot be named to protect her son's identity, said her son is still frightened and hardly ever goes out alone.