Edmonton nurse who sold steroids to soldiers fined $1,500
First posted: Friday, June 06, 2014
A nurse at the Canadian Forces Base Edmonton hospital who admitted selling steroids to soldiers after being busted by undercover military police was fined $1,500 Friday.
Helene Bouchard – a 49-year-old ex-soldier and retired competitive bodybuilder – earlier pleaded guilty to charges of trafficking and exporting a controlled substance.
Provincial Court Judge Larry Anderson handed Bouchard the fine after ruling that neither jail nor a conditional discharge would be appropriate for the offences.
“You are a person who thought this was a victimless crime and that you were not hurting anybody,” said Anderson, accepting that Bouchard was a “people pleaser” who thought she was just helping a friend of a friend.
“But, it was against the law,” said Anderson.
The judge pointed out there was no connection between the steroid selling and her job as a nurse and said it “would be a shame” if she was affected professionally.
“It would be the employer’s loss and probably society’s loss,” said Anderson, adding that he had “no doubt” that Bouchard is “fundamentally a pro-social person.”
According to agreed facts, Bouchard retired from the military with the rank of Captain in 2002 and had been employed as a civilian registered nurse with an office within the Base Hospital at Care Delivery Unit B.
In April 2012, the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service received information that Bouchard was selling steroids to members of the First Battalion of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (1 PPCLI).
Investigators also heard that steroids could be ordered from Bouchard by sending her a text message and then picked up and paid for at her hospital office. As well, she could give instructions on the proper injection technique.
An investigation was begun using a soldier who had previously bought steroids from Bouchard as an agent.
On Aug. 26, 2013, the soldier texted Bouchard that he had a friend who wanted to buy steroids and she replied that he could and inquired about what his goals were.
The friend, a military police investigator, began communicating with Bouchard and eventually purchased a 10-week steroid cycle for $520. At the time, Bouchard asked him not to tell anyone as she did not want to lose her job.
The investigator later contacted Bouchard again and arranged another steroid purchase for a supposed friend.
On Sept. 25, 2013, investigators got a warrant to arrest Bouchard and she was arrested the next day at the Edmonton International Airport while enroute to Las Vegas. In her luggage, police found three vials of steroids.
Defence lawyer Ben Lotery told court Bouchard spent 16 years in the military and said she suffered post traumatic stress disorder as a result of a tour in Rwanda. He also said she was an “acclaimed” bodybuilder before retiring.
Bouchard apologized in court, saying she made a “horrible” and “foolish” mistake. “I was not thinking clearly and allowed my PTSD to cloud my judgement,” she said.
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