Puslinch man sentenced to 33 months in prison for sexually assaulting employee

GUELPH – Richard Reid, a 76-year-old Puslinch homebuilder, has been sentenced to 33 months in prison for sexual crimes committed against a woman he employed.

Reid was twice charged with sexual assault last year: once for offences in 2024-25 and once for offences in 2003.

He answered to one of those charges in Guelph court on July 23, pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a female employee between August 2024 and late January 2025.

Court heard the offences against the woman, who cannot be named because of a publication ban, included an instance of attempted penetration.

According to an agreed statement of facts read aloud in court on Oct. 16, Reid talked about porn with the woman and invited her to join in watching. He asked her to find porn for him to watch, and to act out scenes with him.

She initially declined but later complied, engaging in sexual activity at Reid’s Puslinch home, prosecutor Joshua White told court.

The woman eventually told Reid’s sister-in-law what was happening, saying she was never threatened or forced to participate, before later saying she participated out of fear of losing her job – and telling police she felt pressured.

The case hinged on Reid’s position as the woman’s employer.

Reid is the owner of “Reid Co,” a residential development and construction business for which he’s responsible for day-to-day operations, court heard.

“There was no consent to the sexual activity pursuant to his position of authority,” White previously told court.

Under Canadian criminal law, there is no consent when a person uses their position of authority to induce others into sexual activity.

“A significant custodial sentence is warranted to reflect the gravity of the offending behaviour, your accountability and moral blameworthiness,” Justice Deborah Austin told Reid, noting he had groomed and targeted the women.

The judge said the women depended on Reid, a “highly regarded” and “prominent person” in the community, for their livelihood, creating a power imbalance and inducing compliance.

Another incident

Court also heard Reid masturbated in front of another female employee while watching porn in 2003.

She came forward after the first allegation surfaced, police said last year. However, the charge involving her was dropped at the prosecution’s request this month.

Though the 2003 offence was limited in duration and intrusiveness, the judge said, a victim impact statement from that woman described “long-lasting harm.”

Sexual offences, the judge added, are “inherently violent.”

Prosecutor White and defence lawyer Dean Paquette agreed on a suggested sentence of two years and nine months, but disagreed on an order to put Reid on a sex offender registry for 20 years.

The judge imposed the sentence, but reserved a decision on the sex offender registry.

Reid addressed court, apologizing to the women and his family for the “pain and suffering” he caused.

“My actions are abhorrent and unforgivable,” he said.