Supreme Court restores minimum sentence for soliciting sexual services from a minor
Supreme Court of Canada reinstates a mandatory minimum for sex crimes against minors See what the 7-2 ruling means for sentencing, Charter rights, and future cases
The Supreme Court of Canada has reinstated a sixmonth mandatory minimum sentence for people convicted of obtaining or soliciting sexual services from a minor in exchange for money.
In a 72 decision released Friday, the court overturned a 2024 Quebec Court of Appeal ruling that had found the minimum sentence unconstitutional under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The case involved Mario Denis, who was convicted in 2018 after responding to policerun fake escort ads and being told the person was 16 years old. The Court of Appeal had upheld his sentence even while striking down the minimum, but the Supreme Court said the punishment does not amount to cruel and unusual punishment.