Barrie-area man pleads guilty in child sex abuse case
By Tracy McLaughlin ,Special to QMI Agency
First posted: Friday, January 17, 2014 05:53 PM EST
BARRIE - The kids liked him so much they called him “Uncle Paul,” even though he wasn’t related.
But what they didn’t know, is that he would often spike their lemonade with sleeping pills so that he could sexually abuse them in their drugged slumber.
“They were stupefied and defenseless,” said Crown attorney Greg Barker in during the sentencing hearing of Paul DeVries.
DeVries, 36, of Warminster, north of Barrie, pleaded guilty to administering a noxious substance, sexual interference and creating child pornography after abusing five children aged seven to 11 over several months in 2011 before he got caught.
DeVries would invite children and their friends over for sleepovers at his home with the parents’ knowledge. Photographs found on his cellphone showed an aroused DeVries attempting to sexually assault the children, Barker said.
Other pictures depicted various sexually explicit scenes involving DeVries and the children — both boys and girls.
DeVries’ activity was found out when he boasted about it and showed the photos to another man, who went straight to police.
Barker said there was no evidence the photos were uploaded to the Internet, but the parents of the victims feel terrified they will show up there.
“It preys on their minds,” he said. “How do they know who else has seen them?”
In victim impact statements to the court, the mothers said their children have nightmares about the predator who they thought was a friend.
“Nightmares about Paul escaping from prison and breaking into our house,” said one mom.
Another mother said her two children are afraid to go to sleep at night and now sleep in her room.
In a pre-sentence report, a probation officer noted DeVries acknowledged that he has masturbated in front of small children. On several occasions he also gave 14-year-old girls alcohol and cigarettes and drove them around in his car.
“This is very concerning,” said Barker who is asking for a six to eight-year prison sentence. “We as a society have a duty to protect our innocent children.”
Standing in the prisoner’s box in handcuffs, DeVries politely said, “No, thank you,” when the judge asked if he had anything to say.
Superior Court Justice Michelle Fuerst will hand down her sentence Feb. 28.
By Tracy McLaughlin ,Special to QMI Agency
First posted: Friday, January 17, 2014 05:53 PM EST
BARRIE - The kids liked him so much they called him “Uncle Paul,” even though he wasn’t related.
But what they didn’t know, is that he would often spike their lemonade with sleeping pills so that he could sexually abuse them in their drugged slumber.
“They were stupefied and defenseless,” said Crown attorney Greg Barker in during the sentencing hearing of Paul DeVries.
DeVries, 36, of Warminster, north of Barrie, pleaded guilty to administering a noxious substance, sexual interference and creating child pornography after abusing five children aged seven to 11 over several months in 2011 before he got caught.
DeVries would invite children and their friends over for sleepovers at his home with the parents’ knowledge. Photographs found on his cellphone showed an aroused DeVries attempting to sexually assault the children, Barker said.
Other pictures depicted various sexually explicit scenes involving DeVries and the children — both boys and girls.
DeVries’ activity was found out when he boasted about it and showed the photos to another man, who went straight to police.
Barker said there was no evidence the photos were uploaded to the Internet, but the parents of the victims feel terrified they will show up there.
“It preys on their minds,” he said. “How do they know who else has seen them?”
In victim impact statements to the court, the mothers said their children have nightmares about the predator who they thought was a friend.
“Nightmares about Paul escaping from prison and breaking into our house,” said one mom.
Another mother said her two children are afraid to go to sleep at night and now sleep in her room.
In a pre-sentence report, a probation officer noted DeVries acknowledged that he has masturbated in front of small children. On several occasions he also gave 14-year-old girls alcohol and cigarettes and drove them around in his car.
“This is very concerning,” said Barker who is asking for a six to eight-year prison sentence. “We as a society have a duty to protect our innocent children.”
Standing in the prisoner’s box in handcuffs, DeVries politely said, “No, thank you,” when the judge asked if he had anything to say.
Superior Court Justice Michelle Fuerst will hand down her sentence Feb. 28.
Paul DeVries. (Facebook)
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