Sex offender released early in order to get therapy
A former Notre-Dame-de-Grâce massage therapist who sexually assaulted seven clients has been granted an early release contrary to the recommendations of his parole officer.
David Kost, 50, is to leave a provincial detention centre Feb. 12 after being sentenced to 18 months in September. Kost grew up in Montreal, travelled the world, worked as a chef and studied massage therapy in Australia. When he returned to Montreal, he started a massage therapy clinic out of his home and also opened a fish shop on Somerled Ave.
In March 2016, he and a fellow massage therapist agreed to exchange services. While he massaged the woman, he inserted his fingers in her vagina.
Later that year, he sexually assaulted a young woman he met at a food market after saying he could help with her neck problems.
In 2017, Kost pleaded guilty in both cases and was awaiting sentencing when five other women came forward with similar allegations. Kost then admitted to all the sexual assaults dating back to 2012 and was sentenced to 18 months in jail.
According to a written summary by the provincial parole board, Kost has difficulty understanding French and had no access to therapy programs in either English or French while serving his time in Montreal. He agreed to be transferred to a detention centre in Percé when a spot in a program for sex offenders became available.
Kost tried to get through the program in French, and had help from a guard who translated for him.
“Despite this, you asked to be returned to Montreal under the pretext that you couldn’t follow the therapy” in French, the parole board summary states.
Kost became eligible for parole in December, after serving onesixth of his sentence. But his parole officer felt he should remain incarcerated at least until March “to deepen your reflection on your (crimes) and to get involved in your correctional plan.”
Kost’s lawyer successfully argued that Kost would be better off being released now so he can take part in a therapy program for sex offenders on the outside that “is serious and includes anglophones.”