On Monday afternoon in the NWT Supreme Court, a Yellowknife man pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor in 2021.
Bradley Storm Beaulieu, 26, appeared almost from prison in Alberta to enter the plea.
Judge Louise Charbonneau explained to Beaulieu that this means she is waiving her right to a trial and that she accepts that sexual assault occurred. He said he understood this.
Next, Beaulieu will attend a hearing where the Crown and the defense will present what sentence they think he should receive. Ultimately, it will be up to the judge to decide on the sentence.
There was some confusion during the plea earlier in the day, as Beaulieu appeared on Monday morning and initially entered a plea of not guilty. After filing the request, Beaulieu said he did not have a chance to talk to his lawyer about it.
Court was adjourned for several hours so Beaulieu and his lawyer could speak.
When he reappeared on Monday afternoon and filed a lawsuit, Charbonneau clarified with Beaulieu that the earlier request was because he needed more information.
Beaulieu’s next appearance is scheduled for December 16 when he is expected to appear at approx.
The reason Beaulieu is making a video appearance at an Alberta jail is because he is serving a three-and-a-half-year sentence for a fatal crash last summer.
He was convicted in September of driving a disabled vehicle south on Highway 35 near High Level, Alta., on June 24, 2023 and crashing into a pickup truck with two Yellowknife residents inside who were returning home.
The female passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. The male driver was seriously injured.
The day before that, Beaulieu was charged with impaired driving and dangerous driving in Behchokǫ̀. His next appearance is on November 26.
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