Lethbridge Courthouse

By Lara Fominoff

Sexual Assault

Conditional sentence for man who grabbed woman’s breast and told her “shhhh”

Apr 12, 2019 | 2:02 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A 47-year old man who pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault, after grabbing and holding onto a woman’s breast during a business transaction, has been handed a 9-month conditional sentence and 15-months of probation.

Guillermo Froese, of Picture Butte, was sentenced April 11 in Lethbridge Provincial Court after pleading guilty April 1, 2019.

Back in May 2018, a woman, whose name can not be released – because it’s under a publication ban – and her husband listed a car for sale. She was contacted by Froese to possibly purchase the vehicle.

Around 6 p.m. on May 9, 2018, Froese headed to the woman’s home. The woman’s husband was away, but another woman was there, along with the victim’s four children.

Week-in-review: A spring storm, Whoop-Up Days entertainment and housing for seniors

May 11, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this weekend: May 10, 2024

May 10, 2024

Week-in-review: Passenger rail, a big investment in Coaldale and an NFL draftee from Lethbridge

May 04, 2024

According to an agreed statement of facts, Froese then asked to go into the home to discuss the deal. There, he signed two bills of sale.

As the victim walked to the door, they shook hands and Froese tried to hug her. He was pushed away, but then grabbed the woman’s breast and held on to if for about five seconds, while putting a finger to his lips and saying “shhhh” to her.

As the man left her home, the victim called police and gave them the license plate number of the car Froese was driving. Some time later, police contacted the accused, he went to the police station and admitted to what he had done.

Crown lawyer Lisa Weich told the court while Froese has no previous record and did submit a guilty plea, there were several aggravating circumstances, including that the victim was in her own home at the time of the offense, her children were in the home, she was completing a business transaction and was told to keep quiet about the incident – suggesting Froese knew what he was doing was wrong.

She added that the incident was precisely why women worry about being assaulted in their own homes, that a non- custodial sentence would send the message that the accused would not face any consequence, and that women who are assaulted and report those assaults to police are minimized.

Defense Lawyer Bjorn Wolkmann described Froese as someone with no criminal background, active in the Mennonite church, a man married for 23-years with five children, and the sole income earner of the home.