Longueuil pastor, wife arrested for allegedly using corporal punishment on children

A Longueuil pastor and his wife were arrested Thursday in connection with alleged acts of corporal punishment on minors over a 45-year period.

Mario Monette and Carole Van Houtte, both 65, face a total of 32 charges. These include armed assault, bodily harm, confinement, threats and incitement to commit an indictable offence.

Longueuil police say the pair allegedly subjected children to corporal punishment and encouraged parents to do the same.

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The suspects also exercised significant psychological control over certain members of the church, according to police.

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The alleged acts were committed between 1974 and 2019.

Police say a number of witnesses agreed to come forward anonymously over the course of a year-long police investigation.

Monette and Van Houtte are expected to appear in court on Friday.

Anyone with information to contact police at 450-463-7211.

—With files from the Canadian Press