Man accused of Lethbridge break-in sex assault on teen has long criminal past

A 59-year-old Lethbridge man accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in her bedroom has a history of sexual offences dating back to 2002.

Darrel Gerard Courtoreille was arrested on Monday after someone snuck into a home early that morning and assaulted the 15-year-old girl.

In 2006, police alerted the public that Courtoreille, who had previous convictions forsexual interference involving females under the age of 14, was out of custody and moving into a Lethbridge community.

"Information contained in his file indicates that this individual represents a significant risk to re-offend sexually and poses a risk of significant harm to the community," police said at the time.

Courtoreille was no longer being monitored by Lethbridge police when Monday`s attack took place, saidStaff Sgt. Scott Woods.

"He had complied with his conditions and was demonstrating that he was back in society without any issues," he said.

"Unfortunately, some of these individuals are on the straight and narrow for extended periods of time but will then slip up. So, it's pretty tough to predict."

Woods said the teenage victim is doing well, and he credits her composure for helping get the suspect arrested.

"The true hero in this investigation is this, unfortunately, 15-year-old victim," he said.

"She was outstanding and composed beyond belief, from our standpoint, to be able to provide us with the necessary details to really get a head start on this investigation and ultimately the arrest of this individual."

Courtoreille's list of convictions dates back to 1998:

• In 2004 he pleaded guilty to sexual interference dating back to 1998 and 1999 and was sentenced to 18 months in jail.
• In 2003 he pleaded guilty to sexual interference offences from 1996 and 2001. He was sentenced to nine months.
• In 2003 served a day in jail for a breach of probation.
• In 2002 he pleaded guilty to sexual interference offences that occurred in 2001. He was given a six-month conditional sentence with 12 months of probation.
• In 1998 he pleaded guilty to mischief (property damage) and was sentenced to nine months on probation.
• In 1998 he pleaded guilty to impaired driving and was given a $300 fine and a six-month license suspension.

'It affects the community'

Jennifer Lepko, interim CEO of the YWCA in Lethbridge, says stranger attacks, while uncommon, are very disturbing.

"It affects the individual, it affects their family, their friends and it affects the community," she said.

"There's going to be a lot of scared parents and young people for the next little while, thinking that someone could come into their home at anytime."

Monday's incident is the second random sexual assault in Lethbridge in recent months.

At the end of September, a woman was brutally attacked as she headed for work in the morning.

Denzel Bird, 20, is in custody, facing multiple charges in connection to this case, including attempted murder, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon, and aggravated assault.

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