A Nova Scotia mother says she wanted her son’s abuser “to suffer” after watching him plead guilty to kidnapping, confining and sexually assaulting the teen last year.
The mother, who cannot be identified to protect her son’s identity, spoke to the media after LeBlanc appeared in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Bridgewater Thursday morning.
It was the first time she had faced her son’s abuser.
"As a mother, I just wanted him to suffer," she told reporters outside court as her hands shook. "Normally I'm not like that, but it was just overwhelming."
LeBlanc, 48, pleaded guilty to kidnapping, forcible confinement, sexual assault, uttering threats and breach of conditions in connection with the case that garnered national attention.
Two other charges -- sexual assault causing bodily harm and administering a noxious substance with intent to cause bodily harm -- were withdrawn.
Police went on a nation-wide manhunt for two suspects in September 2012 after a woman in Upper Chelsea, N.S. reported that a teenager appeared at her home barefoot, with chains around his wrists and ankles.
Police said the 16-year-old boy was held captive in a rural cabin for 10 days to two weeks.
“When he was still in captivity he was leaving evidence all over the place,” said the boy’s mother. “He was taking mental notes all the time because he knew he was going to get out and he wanted the proof that he was there to be indisputable.”
LeBlanc was arrested on Sept. 30 while on the run in northern Ontario.
Police had also sought LeBlanc’s partner, Wayne Alan Cunningham, in the case. Cunningham’s body was found close to where LeBlanc was arrested. Police did not suspect foul play in his death.
A third man was charged with sexual assault and communicating for the purpose of obtaining sexual services from a person under age 18. John Leonard MacKean's case will be heard by a judge and jury, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 25.
The victim’s mother said she was surprised last week when LeBlanc’s lawyer indicated his client would be changing his plea, and she wanted to be in court to see it for herself.
“It is hard,” she said. “It’s not what I expected. I wasn’t planning on being here today, and I just wanted to look at his face just to see the look on it when he decided to change his plea.”
During his court appearance Thursday, LeBlanc also pleaded guilty to sexual interference, as well as making and distributing child pornography, in a separate case involving two young boys, aged five and two, in 2010. Five other sex-related charges were withdrawn in that case.
None of LeBlanc’s victims appeared in court.
Crown prosecutor Lloyd Tancock told reporters outside court that LeBlanc’s guilty pleas saved his victims from having to testify in what would have been a lengthy trial.
"Our case was extremely strong and I would hope that (LeBlanc) saw that it was the proper thing to do," Tancock said outside court.
“He didn’t want to put anyone through the rigors of a trial and wanted to accept responsibility and end it for everyone,” said Mike Taylor, LeBlanc’s defence lawyer.
LeBlanc is due back in court on June 14 for sentencing. The Crown and defence are expected to draft a sentencing recommendation together.
Tancock said he will ask that LeBlanc serve between eight and 12 years in a federal penitentiary.
“I hope he is in there for a really long time and I hope those inmates in that place get to him,” said the boy’s mother. “I am sorry, but there is no useful place for that man in society.”
With files from CTV Atlantic's Kelland Sundahl, CTVNews.ca and The Canadian Press
