Disgraced Montreal priest Brian Boucher, who was convicted of sexually abusing two minors, has had his statutory release from prison revoked after he allegedly viewed child sexual abuse material on public transit. In a decision made on Tuesday and released on Friday, the Parole Board of Canada also imposed new release conditions for Boucher to follow the next time he is granted leave. Boucher, 64, had been out on statutory release after being convicted of sexually assaulting two boys at two churches in Montreal between 1995 and 1999 and between 2008 and 2011. He was sentenced in 2019 to eight years in prison. Boucher was granted statutory release in July 2024 and was serving the remainder of his sentence in the community at an approved residential facility. Most offenders serving time in federal penitentiaries are entitled to automatic statutory release under supervision after they have served two-thirds of their sentence. The parole board said in its decision this week that police received a tip from the public that Boucher was allegedly seen viewing child sexual abuse material “while on public transit” in April. He was then arrested on April 9 and later charged in August with possessing child sexual abuse material. According to the decision, Boucher denied viewing the explicit material and was surprised by his arrest. “According to the information provided, the telephone examination carried out to date would have revealed the presence of child sexual exploitation material on your device,” the parole board said. It further added: “You indicated at the time you would like to see your suspension cancelled, and return to the community. Your response is consistent with an ongoing posture of denialism and distorted thinking. “The Board is troubled by your behaviour, new charges, and lack of transparency.” Boucher will again be eligible for statutory release before the end of his sentence next year. Upon his next release, the parole board imposed several conditions, including that he reside at a designated community-based residential facility and to return there every night. The board said it is imposing the residency requirement without leave privileges “as it is satisfied that, in the absence of such a condition, you will present an undue risk to society by committing, before the expiration of your sentence.” According to the board, the former priest also allegedly made eye contact with at least one family member of a victim “at a notable church” in May and June 2025 and “wandered through the common areas at least twice,” in violation of directives from his case management team. The board imposed a new condition “to further ensure the victims’ peace of mind and safety” by prohibiting Boucher from being in an area of Montreal’s Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grace borough: “south of Jean-Talon street, east of Highway 15, north of Chemin de la Côte St-Luc/The Boulevard and west of Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges and not to be within this section of the Town of Mount-Royal borough: south of Highway 40, East of Highway 15, north of Jean-Talon street and west of Boulevard de l’Acadie, unless for medical reasons authorized in writing by the parole officer.” There are several other conditions, including: not to own more than one cellphone; to allow for monitoring of his text messages, social media, and call logs; no contact with the victims or their family members; not to possess pornography or sexually explicit material; no contact with individuals under the age of 18, unless he is accompanied by a responsible adult who knows about his offences and with the prior written authorization from his parole supervisor; not to occupy a job, voluntary or paid, that will put him in a position of authority over individuals under the age of 18. On Tuesday, the same day the parole board made its decision, Boucher waived his right to a bail hearing on the latest criminal charges. He remains detained and is scheduled to return to court for that matter in November.
