Massage therapist pleads guilty to sexual assault
A St. Albert massage therapist who fondled clients’ breasts during massage appointments pleaded guilty to multiple counts of sexual assault at St. Albert Provincial Court on Monday.
Rizaldy Parreno, 46, pleaded guilty to four of eight sexual assault charges on Sept. 19.
Sentencing for Parreno has been adjourned until Jan. 23, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. to allow for completion of a pre-sentence report and a forensic assessment report. The reports will address underlying mental health pathology, assess risks to the community, and offer potential treatment options.
Parreno was originally charged with sexual assault by police after a woman contacted RCMP on July 24, 2021, according to St. Albert RCMP.
The woman reported she had been sexually assaulted by her massage therapist during an appointment. RCMP arrested Parreno after an investigation.
On Sept. 29, 2021, St. Albert RCMP stated Parreno had been charged with seven additional counts of sexual assault.
Man gets house arrest in heroin bust
A man who sold heroin to undercover officers was sentenced in St. Albert Provincial Court on Monday.
On Sept. 19, Judge Michéle Collinson sentenced Curtis Mackintosh, 39, to a two-year conditional sentence for one count of possession of property under $5,000 and an 18-month conditional sentence for one count of trafficking a controlled substance to be served concurrent to the first sentence, and 100 hours of community service.
The sentence was issued through a joint submission by the Crown and defence counsel.
On Oct. 20, 2021, the St. Albert RCMP drug unit was assisted by the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) and Drug Undercover Street Team (DUST) in purchasing drugs from Mackintosh, according to the agreed statement of facts.
Through a telephone number, undercover officers arranged to purchase 3.5 grams of heroin for $400 at a fast-food restaurant near Kingsway Garden Mall in Edmonton.
After undercover officers purchased the heroin, St. Albert RCMP arrested Mackintosh and a woman. Officers searched Mackintosh and found a small amount of crystal meth, and the money used by undercover officers to purchase the heroin, court heard.
Mackintosh has a lengthy criminal record, but the early guilty plea was a mitigating factor.
Collinson said she gave Mackintosh credit for the steps he was taking to reach sobriety, as he has a job and is taking sublocade, a monthly injection used to treat opioid use disorder, to address his substance use issues.
“Your record is quite aggravating … it indicates to me that you've created quite a bit of jeopardy for the community … I suspect directly related to your addiction issues. I'm really pleased to hear that you're addressing those issues,” she said.
