The lawyer for ex-Montreal North mayor Gilles Deguire confirmed Thursday that his client will plead guilty to a charge of sexual touching of a minor under the age of 16.
A statement read in Quebec court described Deguire kissing and touching an underage girl on two occasions, once at his cottage in the Laurentians in 2013 and again in his car in October 2015.
READ MORE: Preliminary hearing set in ex-Montreal North mayor’s sex assault case
The 67-year-old originally also faced a charge of sexual assault, but it was dropped.
Deguire’s lawyer Alexandre Bergevin and Crown prosecutor Louise Blais agreed that he should plead guilty to the lesser charge as a summary offence, so his sentence will be less severe.
The possible minimum sentence is three months and the maximum is 18 months in jail.
The victim will not have to testify.
READ MORE: Former Montreal North mayor charged with sexual assault of a minor
Deguire was first elected mayor of Montreal North in 2009.
He had served as a police officer for 30 years before entering politics in 1999.
Sentencing will take place March 24, 2017.
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