CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A P.E.I. man who repeatedly contacted a woman despite warnings from the police to stay away was sentenced recently to 45 days in jail.
Corey Alan Gaudet, 47, appeared before Chief Judge Nancy Orr in provincial court in Charlottetown for sentencing after previously pleading guilty to criminal harassment.
Reading from an agreed statement of facts, Crown attorney Jeff MacDonald told the court Gaudet and the victim were in a relationship for two or three months before the woman ended it.
Gaudet continued to pursue her, including showing up at her home uninvited.
MacDonald said the woman went to the police to report Gaudet was texting, calling and showing up where she was.
In July, the police told Gaudet to stop contacting the woman, but they had to warn him again in October after he followed a man who left the victim’s home.
Gaudet also showed up at the man’s work.
Less than a week after the second warning, the victim contacted the police because Gaudet left her 15 voicemails and sent her multiple text messages saying he loved her and wanted a relationship.
Later that month, the victim found a baked good that Gaudet used to buy her on her car.
On another day, the police responded to a call about a suspicious man sitting in a vehicle and they found Gaudet parked near the victim’s home.
In November, the woman told police Gaudet called her family 18 times.
MacDonald said Gaudet turned himself in the next day.
The court heard the victim gave the police more than 30 emails Gaudet sent her over several weeks and that included multiple vague references to keeping an eye on her or being with her until death.
MacDonald said the victim gave Gaudet every opportunity to stop contacting her.
Defence lawyer Brendan Hubley said his client accepted full responsibility for his actions and was remorseful.
The court heard Gaudet and the victim had consensual contact after the first time she reported the harassment to the police.
Hubley said it was apparent Gaudet received mixed messages from the woman, but he accepted full responsibility for how he interpreted them and for his actions.
In sentencing Gaudet, Orr said it was fair to say he had mixed messages, including having consensual intimate relations with the victim after the police talked to him the first time.
Orr also said what mattered in the case was Gaudet’s persistence.
Gaudet might not like or agree with the woman not wanting contact with him, but he has to accept it and move on, she said.
Orr said when someone says they want no contact it’s not the time to try harder.
Along with the jail time, which Gaudet will serve intermittently, he will be on probation for three years with conditions that include no contact with the victim.
Gaudet will have to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet if his probation officer directs him to.
He will also be under a 10-year weapons prohibition.
