A former priest from Montreal, Brian Boucher, convicted in 2019 for sexually abusing two boys, is now facing charges related to possessing and accessing child sexual abuse material.
Boucher’s defense lawyer appeared in a Montreal courtroom on his behalf, and the case has been postponed to Sept. 8, following allegations that the offenses took place between April 7 and April 9.
Having worked in 10 Montreal-area churches from 1985 to 2015, Boucher was found guilty and sentenced to eight years in prison for sexually assaulting two boys, with incidents occurring at two churches between 1995 and 1999, and between 2008 and 2011.
Following his statutory release in 2024, Boucher was residing in an approved residential facility until his recent arrest. Concerns about potential past misconduct were highlighted in a 2024 Parole Board report.
Despite being granted statutory release after serving two-thirds of his sentence, numerous conditions were imposed on Boucher, such as residing in an approved facility and avoiding contact with children or victims.
In late 2025, the Parole Board further restricted Boucher from specific areas of Montreal after a victim reported sightings of him. The report expressed concerns about his lack of trustworthiness and history of disregarding emotional boundaries, posing risks to victims and their families.
Formally defrocked in 2020, Boucher’s case and subsequent inquiry led to criticism of Montreal’s Catholic diocese for not taking complaints against him seriously. Montreal’s archbishop pledged to enact recommendations from the inquiry, stressing strict protocols and sanctions for rule violations.
Keyphrase: Montreal priest child abuse
