Campground owners win justice after years of harassment

He sentenced Richard Deschambault, 56, to six months incarceration and his mother, Louise Deschambault, to 45 days as a result of their seven-year campaign of harassment against the owners of the Bona Vista Campground, located on Muskrat Lake near Cobden.

Once again, it was standing room only when Justice Fraser delivered his sentence, much of it based on sentencing recommendations submitted by Assistant Crown Attorney, (A/CA) Lori Crewe.

Both Ms. Crewe and Defence Counsel, Dan Howard appeared before His Honour on August 25 and submitted their sentencing recommendations before a standing room-only courtroom. More than 30 individuals attended both hearings to show support for Denis and Bonnie Seguin.

The couple purchased the campground from Mrs. Deschambault and her late husband in 2019. Over the next seven years, the Seguins were subjected to a non-stop harassment campaign from Mrs. Deschambault and her son Richard, resulting in more than 100 calls for service to the Ontario Provincial Police and a lengthy trial held throughout 2026.

Last week, Justice Fraser informed the court that he relied on evidence and testimony during their trial along with Victim Impact Statements and a Pre-Sentencing Report to reach his sentencing decisions.

“On June 25, 2026, I found Richard Deschambault guilty of four counts of failure to comply with a probation order; one count of failure to comply with a release order, and one count of obstruct a peace officer,” Justice Fraser read from his prepared statement.

“On that same day, I found Louise Deschambault guilty of two counts of mischief; one count of obstruct a peace officer; one count of failing to comply with an undertaking, and one count of cause disturbance.

Prior to informing the defendants of his decision, he explained to the court the rationale for his decision to incarcerate the pair.

“The fundamental purpose of sentencing is to protect society…show respect for the law and the maintenance of a just, peaceful and safe society,” he said. “To denounce unlawful conduct and the harm done to victims…to deter the offenders and other persons from committing offences and to separate offenders from society and to assist in rehabilitating offenders.”

He identified the need to recognize the suffering inflicted not only on the Seguins, but the hundreds of residents and visitors to their campground, and how their actions not only created a sense of fear among those in the campground, but how the actions of Richard and Louise Deschambault affected their business and the community.

“There must be a recognition of the harm done to the victims and the community and to provide reparations done to the victim or to the community.”

Majority of Crown

Recommendations Accepted

As Justice Fraser delivered his sentencing, it became apparent that he accepted a majority of Ms. Crewe’s recommendations including the length of both jail sentences and separate probation orders which contained several conditions.

Among the conditions imposed was a non-communication order between the defendants and Bonnie and Denis Sequin, the Seguin children and Bona Vista campers who testified during the trial.

Justice Fraser also took into account three Victim Impact Statements introduced by Ms. Crewe.

He also accepted Ms. Crewe’s condition that the Deschambaults are forbidden from engaging in any disparaging social media posts against the Seguins or their children. He also included that both defendants are not allowed within 50 meters on any property owned by Mr. and Mrs. Seguin. They were both restricted from owning any weapons as defined in the Criminal Code of Canada and both must submit a DNA sample for a Canadian national databank.

Pre-Sentence Report

Justice Fraser also referenced a Pre-Sentence Report completed by a Probation Officer assigned to the Deschambault matters. He highlighted the fact that neither Richard or Louise Deschambault refused to acknowledge or accept any responsibility in regard to their seven-year period of harassment waged against the couple from the time they purchased the campground in 2019.

He stated that Louise Deschambault refuses to acknowledge the suffering she inflicted on the Seguins. Mrs. Deschambault told the Probation Officer that she was the victim and her actions were only geared towards drivers using the entrance to the campground.

Neither mother nor son refused to accept any responsibility for more than 100 calls to the OPP, or the seven-year campaign of terror waged against the Seguins. Both blamed the Seguins and several campers for purposely speeding on the shared entrance.

Justice Fraser recapped the three Victim Impact Statements along with the pre-sentencing report when he concluded his sentencing.

“Louise Deschambault shows a lack of insight or remorse,” he said. “She continues to seek to justify or rationalize her actions and the police have had to intervene on many, many occasions. Ms. Deschambault has no apparent motivation to change her conduct.”

“Richard Deschambault has a prior criminal record including convictions for failure to comply,” Justice Fraser said. “He takes no accountability and tends to rationalize his actions, as stated in the Pre-Sentencing Report.

Significant Period of Custody

Is Required

Justice Fraser concluded his sentencing by stating any penalty that only includes Conditional Sentencing with no incarceration would be inappropriate and fail to meet accepted community standards which can include House Arrest orders or other sentences that do not include incarceration orders.

He stated Richard and Louise Deschambault have both violated several conditions in previous sentencing and they exhibit no remorse or intent to curb their behaviour.

“The Deschambaults refuse to change or alter their ways,” he said.

He also referenced Mr. Deschambault’s documented learning and physical disabilities but said those challenges did not excuse him from judicial consequences.

“Mr. Deschambault knows right from wrong, and he has completed high school and once had a Driver’s Licence,” he said. “He knows he has an obligation to abide by the law.”

He quoted the Pre-Sentence Report when he read aloud, “the subject’s (Richard Deschambault) attitude toward the offence is very poor and his own ability to regulate his emotions is very concerning. He is fully aware of what he is doing. He has been dismissive of the court and the court process.”

“A significant period of custody is required as the only appropriate sentence. A Conditional Sentencing Order given to Mr. Deschambault would be offensive to the community and to the interests of justice.”

He agreed with the A/CA Crewe that a period of incarceration is the only means to protect Denis and Bonnie Seguin from reoccurring harassment and threats inflicted on them by the Deschambaults.

Outburst In Court

Towards the end of the hearing when Justice Fraser ordered the OPP Special Constables to take both Richard and Louise Deschambault into custody, they both attempted to resist being handcuffed by the officers.

As Mr. Deschambault was led away, Mrs. Deschambault started to yell at the officers to leave her son alone and she swore obscenities to the judge and continued to use profane language in the courtroom while she was being handcuffed.

As he did at the end of their previous court appearance Justice Fraser once again cautioned both Louise and Richard Deschambault against making any statements while court was still in session.

Although Mr. Deschambault was handcuffed and escorted by two OPP officers, he stared directly at Mr. and Mrs. Seguin and uttered a few words towards them.  Mrs. Seguin told the Leader that Mr. Deschambault verbally threatened them as he was led away to the OPP Transport Vehicle. They will initially be incarcerated at the Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre for processing but it is unknown at this time where the defendants will serve out their respective sentences.