A former St-Laurent High School basketball coach, Daniel Lacasse, was acquitted of sexual exploitation and assault causing bodily harm at the Montreal courthouse on Thursday.
Lacasse, 45, is one of three teachers who were arrested in 2022 for allegedly sexually exploiting students 12 years prior.
During her testimony, the victim said she grew close to her coach, who paid her medical bills, took her to appointments and even attended her physiotherapy appointments.
She said she started sleeping over at Lacasse’s home, where she alleges they had multiple sexual encounters while she was still a minor.
Lacasse testified that the sexual relationship only began after the victim turned 18.
In his ruling, Justice Alexandre Dalmau said that the court could not establish beyond a reasonable doubt whether the sexual contact between Lacasse and the victim began before or after she turned 18.
“This verdict does not mean that the events described by the plaintiff did not occur,” the judge wrote.
With files from Stephane Giroux.
