Quebec Court Imposes 27-Month Prison Sentence in Disturbing Assault Case
A Longueuil resident has been handed a significant prison term after admitting to a violent assault on a young boy that shocked the community. Stéphanie Borel, 47, received a 27-month prison sentence at the Longueuil courthouse on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, following her guilty plea to aggravated assault.
Violent Response to Childhood Prank
The court heard disturbing details about how Borel responded to what she described as repeated doorbell pranks at her residence. According to the joint statement of facts entered into the court record, Borel had been experiencing frequent incidents of children playing "doorbell dash" or "ding dong ditching" in the months leading up to the assault.
On October 2, 2024, Borel decided to take matters into her own hands. When a 10-year-old boy approached her door, she doused him with very hot water that caused second-degree burns covering four percent of his body. She reportedly shouted, "It's hot, isn't it! Get out of here!" as the child suffered from the scalding liquid.
Lasting Physical and Psychological Damage
The consequences of the assault have been severe and long-lasting for the young victim. The burn marks left permanent scars that remain visible years after the incident. The boy required hospitalization for several days to receive treatment for his injuries.
In a heartfelt letter to the court, the boy's parents expressed their devastation. "We immigrated to Quebec on November 11, 2022 with the hope of giving our children a safe and stable environment," they wrote. "That hope was broken on October 2, 2024, when the adult used extreme violence on our child."
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing Details
Quebec Court Judge Marc-Antoine Carette agreed with a joint sentencing recommendation from both the prosecution and defense. With time served factored into the calculation, Borel has 20 months remaining to serve as of the sentencing date.
The sentence includes several significant components:
- A 27-month prison term for aggravated assault
- Three years of probation, the maximum period allowed under the Criminal Code
- Prohibition from communicating with the victim or his family
- A requirement to stay at least 500 metres from the family's residence
- Mandatory therapy for violent behavior with a psychologist
- Compliance with any prescribed medication from a doctor
- Restriction from referencing the victim on social media during probation
Complicated Case Background
The case attracted significant media attention, particularly after the boy's parents suggested their son might have been targeted because of his race. The family, who immigrated to Canada in 2022, noted that their son is Black while Borel is white.
However, during her guilty plea last year, Borel stated that she didn't know the person approaching her door was a child or Black. She explained that she had become upset because previous pranksters had frightened her cats.
The legal proceedings followed a complicated path. Borel was initially arrested on the day of the incident but released on a promise to appear in court. Media attention apparently prompted authorities to arrest her a second time and detain her for a bail hearing.
She spent approximately three weeks in jail before being granted bail on October 31, 2024. That release was later revoked when her son refused to let her live with him, which had been one of her bail conditions. The reasons behind her son's refusal were not disclosed in court.
Judicial Considerations and Future Implications
Judge Carette acknowledged the profound impact of the assault on the young victim. "The recommended sentence takes into consideration the numerous consequences, not just physical, but psychological, that such behaviour brings on a child of that age," he stated while referencing the parents' letter.
The judge also noted mitigating factors in Borel's case, including her guilty plea, demonstrated remorse toward the victim, and compliance with bail conditions for nearly a year until her living situation changed.
Despite the severity of the crime, Judge Carette expressed hope for the victim's future. "Having said that, I am profoundly convinced that it will go well (in the future) for this child. I am convinced," he remarked during the sentencing hearing.
The case serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly situations can escalate when individuals take extreme measures in response to minor provocations, particularly when children are involved.
