City councillor in Quebec town charged with kidnapping and sexual assault

Bruno-Pierre Godbout, a city councillor in Chandler, Que., was arrested on Tuesday and is facing a slew of charges, including kidnapping, harassment, sexual assault and assault with a weapon.

The 36-year-old local official was acting mayor of the town, located on the Gaspé peninsula, in 2021. Between 2010 and 2025, he is alleged to have assaulted three women. He faces a total of 12 charges. 

Provincial police began its investigation in February, says Frédéric Deshaies, spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec. He says police are asking for people with information to come forward. 

"[He] would have used his notoriety to get in touch with his victims," said Deshaies. "He was an individual who was known."

He says the elected official, who represents the Newport district on the municipal council, appeared in court Tuesday and remains in custody.

Before his recent arrest, Godbout was already facing three charges of fraud, forgery and the use, trafficking or possession of forged documents. This allegedly took place between Feb. 1, 2021 and July 31, 2021, when he was acting mayor of the city of Chandler. This file is expected to appear before a tribunal in May. 

He has pleaded not guilty to the fraud charges and none of the allegations have been proven in court. 

In February 2024, Quebec's municipal commission asked the Superior Court to declare Godbout temporarily incapable of holding office as a member of a municipal council in the province.

While Godbout is still being paid, Chandler Mayor Gilles Daraîche says he was temporarily relieved of his duties in 2024, but still holds the title of councillor.

This week, his arrest sent shock waves through the town of about 7,400 people, says Daraîche.

He says he is in communication with the municipality's lawyers to determine the next steps, but said the municipality will not be assuming legal costs of this case.

"People are angry, they're disappointed," Daraîche said.