Quebec Court of Appeal orders new trial for Shayne Corson's son in sex assault case
The Quebec Court of Appeal has ordered a new trial for the son of former Montreal Canadien Shayne Corson, following Noah-Lee Jetté-Corson’s conviction two years ago of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of consent.
On Feb. 9, 2024, Jetté-Corson, now 28, a former Quebec Major Junior Hockey League player, was convicted of sexually assaulting a minor with other participants.
Jetté-Corson was playing for the Drummondville Voltigeurs, part of the QMJHL, when the sexual assault allegedly occurred in late 2016. His father Shayne played for the Canadiens between 1985 and 1992.
The complainant, who was 15 years old when she had sex with Jetté-Corson and two 17-year-old males in her bedroom, told the court she suffered from “intense depression” after being sexually assaulted and had to be treated in a hospital by a psychiatrist. She also told the court that being sexually assaulted by three males had a “catastrophic impact on her sex life.”
The two 17-year-olds pleaded guilty in youth court.
During Jetté-Corson’s trial at the Drummondville courthouse, the trial judge heard evidence to suggest the girl was performing fellatio on the two 17-year-olds when Jetté-Corson walked into her bedroom and had intercourse without seeking her consent.
On May 5, 2025,
the same judge sentenced Jetté-Corson to a prison term of two years less a day
. He was released on bail while his appeal was pending.
On Thursday, the Quebec Court of Appeal ordered a new trial after determining the trial judge made an error in finding that Jetté-Corson did not do enough to determine whether the girl was 16 or over. The appellate court noted the Criminal Code includes nuances when there is not much difference in the age of the accused and the complainant. Jetté-Corson was less than three years older than the girl. In these situations, an accused can present a defence of making an error when assuming the girl’s age.
Quebec’s highest court determined the trial judge did not factor in Jetté-Corson’s testimony concerning why he assumed the girl was over the age of consent.
He told the court he assumed the girl was 18. He said he noticed the girl was friends with a college student and was on Tinder, an app he assumed was restricted to people over the age of 18. He also said that, before he went to the girl’s apartment, she told him that she had been to a bar in Drummondville that he had previously been to.
According to the decision delivered on Thursday, Corson testified that the apartment the girl arranged to meet him and the two 17-year-olds in appeared to be very small and “like a student’s apartment.” He also testified that the girl “really acted like it was her apartment.” He also said that one of the 17-year-olds told him they were going to her apartment.