Halifax man pleads guilty to voyeurism charge

A Halifax man accused of watching the occupants of a residence from a sidewalk has pleaded guilty to a charge of voyeurism.

Andre Joseph Benard, 55, was arrested in July after police received a report that a man had been standing on the sidewalk in front of a residence on Lawrence Street in Halifax at night for an extended period of time and engaging in suspicious activity.

The caller reported that the man was dressed in jogging gear and pretending to stretch while he stared at a window of the home.

Halifax Regional Police said the man had been seen doing the same thing on multiple occasions since last February.

Benard entered the guilty plea Dec. 6, when he appeared in Halifax provincial court with lawyer Mark Knox.

Judge Gregory Lenehan ordered a presentence report and scheduled sentencing for February.

According to court documents, police allege Benard committed voyeurism by surreptitiously observing two women who were “in circumstances that give rise to a reasonable expectation of privacy.”

He is also charged with criminal harassment for “besetting or watching a dwelling house.” That charge is expected to be withdrawn.

Benard remains free on a $500 recognizance with conditions, including one prohibiting him from wearing a ski mask in public.

He must remain in his Gladstone Street apartment from 8 p.m. until 7 a.m. daily, unless he's attending Bible study or group prayer at two

Halifax churches on Tuesday and Friday evenings.

Benard cannot be within an area of Halifax bounded by and including Robie Street, Cunard Street, Chebucto Road, Harvard Street and Quinpool Road, except for going to his lawyer's office on Chebucto Road.

He's also prohibited from possessing firearms or having contact with four women and one man.