A New Brunswick doctor has pleaded guilty to summary assault for touching a woman’s buttocks, pelvis and breasts without her consent in a bar in 2022.
Rémi Poitras, 30, of Edmundston, was originally charged with sexual assault.
But on Wednesday, his lawyer, Mathieu Boutet, told the Moncton provincial court that an agreement had been reached with the Crown and his client had agreed to plead guilty to a summary assault charge.
Poitras, who specializes in family medicine and emergency medicine, with an office at the Moncton Hospital, according to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick’s registry, then stood and confirmed his plea to the judge.
According to a statement of facts, admitted by both parties and read aloud by the Crown, the victim was at the Tide & Boar bar on Main Street in Moncton on Oct. 29, 2022, when Poitras grabbed her buttocks. He then placed his hands on her hips and pelvis.
Poitras, who remains free in the community, is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 26. (Kate Letterick/CBC News)
The victim left the bar with a woman — Poitras’s roommate — and got into a car to go home. Poitras joined them in the vehicle.
The victim pretended to be asleep. That’s when Poitras touched her breasts, the court heard.
Poitras is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 26 for a sentencing hearing.
He declined to comment as he left the Moncton courthouse.
Work status unclear
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick did not respond to questions about whether Poitras’s plea will result in a suspension pending a disciplinary hearing.
In an emailed a statement, deputy registrar Dr. Nicole LeBlanc said the college is unable to confirm or provide details on specific cases for privacy reasons.
But the regulatory body is committed to investigating all cases with fairness and integrity, she said.
Horizon Health Network did not respond to questions about whether Poitras is still employed and working at the Moncton Hospital.
His current licence, which took effect in January, is due to expire in December, and has no conditions attached, as of Wednesday, according to the college’s website.