A former Canton official openly admitted to sexually abusing two minors before he was sentenced in Hartford Superior Court Thursday to four years in prison and six years parole.
“I’m here to tell you I take absolute responsibility for my destructive behavior,” a tearful Richard G. Jacques, 76, said before he was sentenced, later adding that he was “deeply sorry.”
Avoiding a trial, Jacques plead guilty to charges of risk of injury to a minor and third-degree sexual assault in cases that involved a boy and girl who were minors at the time of the incidents. One of the cases dated back to the early 2000s.
Jacques, who was listed as a Manchester at the time of his August 2012 arrest by Canton police, had served as on Canton's Permanent Municipal Building starting in 2000 and later as chair took the lead on projects such as school expansion and the community center and police department buildings.
Court proceedings lasted more than two hours Thursday and included testimony from two psychologists questioned by Jacques’ attorney Jennifer Zito.
The first, Norbert Spencer, a West Hartford counselor and psychotherapist, said Jacques had attended about 45 sessions in the past year, accepted pending consequences, showed remorse and explored reasons for his behavior. He also talked about behavioral addiction and said there was very low risk that Jacques would be a repeat offender.
Clinical Psychologist Dr. Leslie Lothstein then took the stand and talked about “late onset pedophilia.” While he never evaluated Jacques directly he talked about the condition and said the defendant’s multiple medical issues and other factors made him a candidate for it. Later in the proceedings, Zito said Jacques was not evaluated directly by Lothstein because he offered no excuses for his behavior and took full responsibility.
She said it was to provide a potential reason and asked Judge Joan K. Alexander to consider that, his health and age in sentencing.
Also included in the sentencing hearing were emotional statements from affected family members, including one victim, his fiancée, his mother and others.
“I sit here with a sad heart that I failed to protect him,” the boy's mother said.
Alexander later told her to take comfort in one respect.
“You have to be in awe that you raised children that were brave enough to come forward,” the judge said.
Other family members who spoke displayed photos and talked about the devastating effects of the abuse. The victim himself and others alluded to a more widespread problem and other incidents.
“Today I address you as one of many,” the victim said.
State’s Attorney Thomas Garcia was emotional as he spoke about Jacques and the pain of the family.
“He has taken a beautiful family and ripped them to pieces,” he said. “I see a strong young man who stood up to this monster and said no more.”
By agreement, Jacques faced a maximum of five years incarceration and five years parole.
Jacques spoke before he was sentencing, repeatedly stating he took responsibility and that the victims were in no way to blame.
Zito then offered closing statements.
“I don’t think anything this court can do will be worse than the anguish the defendant will bear,” she said.
Alexander commended the family for coming forward and understood their feelings, such as the mother’s wish for a life sentence. She also said she did have to take into account other factors such as age and noted that she believed 10 years of supervision would be “for life.”
She gave him a four-year sentence and six years of special parole, which will run concurrent with a sentence from Illinois, where Jacques pleaded guilty to similar charges. The sentencing and parole came with numerous conditions, including continued counseling and no contact with the victims and other children.
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