Quebec town mayor convicted of sexual assault still on the job

Women's groups say they're appalled that a mayor convicted of sexual assault is still on the job.

Last week Denis Lejeune, the mayor of Baie-Trinit, Que., a tiny village on the north shore about 90 kilometres east of Baie-Comeau, received a suspended sentence after he was found guilty last summer of sexual assault.

The incident dated back to 2011, when he cornered a woman in a bathroom and caressed her breasts and genitals under her clothes.

He was able to keep his job because under Quebec's elections law, people are only disqualified from sitting on council if they're sentenced to 30 days or more in jail.

The head of the Council for the Status of Women saidshe's disgusted sexual assault is treated more lightly than fraud in the courts.

"I'm a little revolted this morning," Julie Miville-Deschnes said.

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Guilaine Lvesque, who runs the sexual assault support centre in Baie-Comeau, said mayors are supposed to set an example.

"In this case, the example is to commit sexual crimes," she said.

Judge Franois Boisjoli ruled that Lejeune's act was at the lower end of the scale regarding serious sexual crimes.

He sentenced Lejeune to two years' probation and120 hours of community work. As well,he must donate $4,000 to a sexual assault victims' aid group.

Lejeune was added to the sex offender database for 20 years, and he's forbidden from owning any weapons for 10 years.

Lejeune is appealing his conviction and was not available to comment.

He's been mayor of Baie-Trinit since 2009 and was re-elected in 2013,following the accusation of sexual assault.