Former youth baseball coach in Montreal's West Island found guilty of sexual assault

A former youth baseball coach who was well knownin Montreal's West Island has been found guilty of sexual assault and sexual interference in a case that centred on one-on-one coaching sessions he gave to a 13-year-old boy.

Robert Litvack, who is from Dollard-des-Ormeaux, was charged in 2021.The incidents took place in 2020 and 2021.

Litvackworked as a coach and an administrator for the Lac-Saint-Louis baseball league from 2008 up until this year, where he had players who were between the ages of 13 and 21.

He also spent about a decade working as a coach and bench staff member for the minor hockey association in Dollard-des-Ormeaux until 2017.

Before and after coaching sessions with the victim, Litvack gave him massages which, according to the coach's testimony, were meant to relieve the boy's muscle pain.

During the trial, Litvack testified that he gave the teen about 15 massages in total: 10 with the boy's pants on, and five with them off.

Litvack added that on one occasion, the teenager lowered his pants and asked for a massage, which the former coach said caught him by surprise.

The victim, who is now 16, gave a different version.

He testified that the former coach asked him to lower his boxers to give him a massage and he started to feel uncomfortable over time.

He also mentioned that Litvack used to tickle him during those encounters, which added to his discomfort.

Litvacksaid he never brought up the massages with the boy's parents, saying they weren't significant in the overall picture of his training.

Ultimately, the judge did not believe Litvack's version of events and concluded that the massages were sexual in nature.

Crown prosecutor Camille Boucher said the judicial process has been challenging for the victim and his family.

"But I think there's some gratification now thatthey've gone through it and gotthe result thatwe got today," Boucher said.

The case will be back in court on Sept. 27.

The Crown and the defence will determine the next steps in the sentencing process.

According to the Canadian Criminal Code, a guilty verdict in a sexual assault case with a victim under the age of 16carries a minimum punishment of five years in prison.

Written by Antoni Nerestant with files from Mlissa Franois, Kristy Rich and Radio-Canada's Amlie Desmarais