Former Canadian Shane Corson's son has been found guilty of sexual assault on minors.

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DRUMMONDVILLE – Former Quebec minor hockey league player Noah Corson has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 16 in 2016.

In Friday's ruling, Quebec District Court Judge Paul Dunnigan said Corson did not do enough to verify the victim's age — she was 15 at the time — and, Corson's defense attorney said, he “wholeheartedly believed” she was at least 16, the age of consent.

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The attack took place in Drummondville, about 100 kilometers northeast of Montreal, and involved two other minors charged in the case. Both pleaded guilty to sexual assault in a youth court in 2021.

Their identity, as well as that of the victim, is protected by a ban on publication.

Corson, a former Drummondville Voltigeurs player and son of former Montreal Canadiens player Shane Corson, was 18 at the time of the attack.

Dunnigan's ruling focused on Noah Corson's understanding of the victim's age, not on his claim that he did not consent to the group sex. The judge's failure to take “all reasonable steps” to confirm Corson's age meant “there is no need to decide any other questions for sentencing.”

The Criminal Code states that a person must be at least 16 years old to consent to sex, but there is an exception for 14- and 15-year-olds if their sexual partner is five years older than them. However, Dunnigan cites legal precedent that this exception does not apply to cases involving more than two participants in a sexual act.

He said it would be a valid defense for Corson to believe the victim was at least 16 years old, but if he did it all, his age would have to be verified. His failure to do so was enough to establish his guilt, the judge said.

Noah Corson's attorney, Jasmine Laperle, told reporters Friday that the judge did not consider the credibility of witnesses in the case. “These elements have received little attention,” he said.

Laperle did not immediately respond to a separate request for comment from The Canadian Press.

Speaking to reporters, prosecutor Marc-Andre Roy noted the victim's courage and “great will to overcome significant obstacles.”

“This is the end of his journey,” he said.

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