Prison for ‘Klutzy’
Former entertainer sentenced to two years federal time
A former Cape Breton party entertainer was sentenced Wednesday to a two-year federal prison term, having previously pleaded guilty to charges including sexual assault involving a 15-year-old girl.
Dale Rancourt, who for 21 years operated a party entertainment company in Cape Breton under the name Klutzy the Clown, pleaded guilty to charges of sexual assault and breaching a court order. The offences occurred in 2016.
In addition to the jail sentence, Rancourt will also complete a two-year probation period after his release from jail and will be a registered sex offender for 20 years. He is banned from possessing weapons for the remainder of his life and is to supply a DNA sample to the national registry.
Among the conditions of his probation, Rancourt is not to attend areas where individuals under the age of 18 are likely to gather, parks, playgrounds, schools, and is not to have to contact with anyone under the age of 18 unless accompanied by an adult or through incidental contact.
The sentence was a joint recommendation from prosecutors Shane Russell and Peter Harrison and defence lawyer Tony Mozvik and accepted by Supreme Court Justice Patrick Murray.
Rancourt admitted to having a two-month sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl who he told he thought they had a future together.
In a recorded telephone call between the girl and Rancourt in October, 2016, the girl asked him why he had sex with a 15-year-old?
“Because I thought you loved me and I thought that we were going to have something at the time, and we had a future together,” said Rancourt.
A publication ban prohibits reporting the name of the victim or any information that could identify her.
Rancourt and the girl were known to each other and the first sexual contact was in July 2016 when Rancourt kissed her on the lips and touched her buttocks.
A few days later, the pair was together at Rancourt’s home on Gabarus Road and, according to the girl, they made out — kissing and touching. In early August, the pair had sexual intercourse for the first time. The girl told investigators they had intercourse at least six times.
After his arrest, Rancourt was released on conditions that included he not attend areas where persons under the age 18 are likely to gather.
On two occasions in November 2016, Rancourt, a native of Ontario, dropped off donations to a community services agency where the girl had been enrolled in programming, resulting in a breach of his release conditions.
Prior to sentence, Rancourt spent seven months on remand and was described Wednesday by Mozvik as being a model prisoner, recording no infractions while on remand.
Rancourt declined the opportunity Wednesday to address the court prior to sentence.
In passing sentence, the judge said Rancourt took advantage of the situation involving the victim for his own sexual gratification.