Former Atikamekw police chief gets 6 years for sexual assault

The former police chief of anAtikamekwcommunitynorthwest of Quebec City was sentenced Tuesday tosix years in prison for sexually assaulting five women over a 40-year period.

Jean-PaulNashish, who headed theWemotaci First Nation police force in the 1970s and 1980s, was found guilty in Decemberon 10 counts of sexual assault charges, including rape, gross indecency and sexually touching children under the age of 14.

"[We are] relieved, I would say" said Crown prosecutor ricThriault, "Very, very, very relieved."

Thriault added that it is likelyNashish's position of power in the Wemotacicommunity contributed to the length of his sentence.

The Crown hadasked for a seven-year sentence, the defence for two years minus a day.

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Position of power

Nashishserved on theWemotaci force for 13 years. He was also a band member inthecommunity.

It was during his time as a policeofficer thatNashishcommitted most of the crimes. Two of the attacks happened whilehe was in uniform and was meant to be helping women who were intoxicated.

The court heard thatNashishtold one of hisvictims not to speak about what happened, adding no one would believe her because he wore an officer's uniform.

Thriault saidhe recognizedno amount of time behind bars will heal the wounds of Nashish'svictims. Buthe hopes today's sentence will have some positive consequences.

"I think this is a good message to other victims who might, in the future, want to come forward with accusations," he said.

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Small community

The grand chief of the Atikamekw Nation, ConstantAwashish, saidit will take the small community of Wemotaci a long time to heal.

"I think what's most important is that justice has been served for the victims," Awashish said.

But the legal ordeal isn't over for one of the victims. In one incident whereNashish was found guilty, he was alleged to have had an accomplice, formerWemotaci band council chiefMarcelBoivin.

Boivinis scheduled to stand trial in November onsexual assault charges.

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