Milton MacDonald

Milton MacDonald, father of Cornwall Crown attorney Murray MacDonald and according to some sources a relative of former Crown attorney and accused child molester Malcolm MacDonald (died after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice and before standing trial on sexual abuse charges), was known to frequent the home of probation officer Ken Seguin (deceased) in the company of clergy and other prominent men who were allegedly part of "the clan."

Milton is also OPP officer Randy Millar's father-in-law.

Justice delayed

Sexual assault victims waited years for conviction

9 Jaunuary 1995 

by Lisa Hrabluk

Staff Writer

Thirty-one year ago Milton MacDonald drove up along the sidewalk in the village of Lancaster and offered a 14-year old boy a ride home. Recognizing the 40-year old father and Cub Scout volunteer, the young boy saw no harm in accepting the ride. However, MacDonald did not drive the teenager home. Instead MacDonald took him out to a nearby farm, parked the car and proceeded to fondle the boy. It was not the first time MacDonald would prey upon the young boys of Lancaster and eventually 10 youths would come forward to press charges for attacks that occurred between 1963 and 1992. But justice came slowly for the youth of Lancaster. 

Back in 1969 MacDonald was charged with and pleaded guilty to only one count of indecent assault despite evidence that suggested MacDonald had terrorized more than one child. One youth who came forward had been assaulted repeatedly during the summer of 1963 when he was 12 years old. Going through the youth's parents, MacDonald approached the youth's mother and offered to help the boy make some extra money by hiring him to build a trench. 

The family was large and each of the children was expected to  help with the family expenses so the victim's mother accepted. Despite his own personal doubts, the youth  went along with his mother's decision and found himself alone with MacDonald on more than one occasion.

In the victim impact statement he wrote for MacDonald's 1994 trial, he described his emotions. "I felt like a trophy on parade as he drove slowly down the main street of town in full view of everyone as I had seen him do with several other boys. Once we got out of town I remember cowering against the passenger door as he reached over." 

Finally, in 1969 he decided to break his silence. "After I revealed my secret I was approached by a local member of the church and asked to reconsider my charges against a good Catholic, a family man," wrote the victim. "I left for university a short time after and I was never called to testify in person." For some reason the justice system decided not to charge MacDonald with this assault or six other assaults performed on young boys as young as 10. Instead, he received a suspended sentence, two years probation and told to seek psychological counselling for his pedophilia. But no one seemed prepared to tell Milton MacDonald what to do or  how to behave.

His probation went unchecked but if anyone had bothered to ask, they would have discovered that MacDonald never received counselling for his pedophilia, a fact that enrages one victim's father.  His son was repeatedly assaulted by MacDonald from 1988 to 1992. "All of the perpetrators of these types of crimes have to be published because I'm telling you if I had known I'm quite sure that this wouldn't have happened," he said shortly after MacDonald was announced Friday afternoon to 20 months in prison, 12 of those months from the 1988-92 attacks. "It's not enough. He should have been locked up for five years and none of that time off for good behavior crap." 

So angry is he with the justice system that he was moved to jump up at one point  in the proceedings and asked Judge Stephen J. Hunter if he could speak. Following a 15 minute recess, Crown attorney Dickie, who along with Hunter are from outside the Cornwall jurisdiction, stated that the family wanted the judge to understand how MacDonald's acts had affected everyone, not just the victim. "It has been devastating for my family," said the father with a catch in his voice.

Later, outside the courtroom, the father added: "I was listening to the defence and I couldn't believe what he was saying," he said, referring to defence attorney Ian McKechnie's plea of leniency in light of MacDonald's age and standing in the community. 'I'd like to think I had some impact."

Although his son is now married and the father of a new baby, his teenage years  were turbulent. MacDonald first approached the youth in 1987 while he was reeve of Lancaster, a position he held from 1985-88. New in town, the 13-year old innocently accepted MacDonald's invitation to come over and watch hockey videos. However, once alone, MacDonald began playing pornographic videos and as the film played, MacDonald reached for the youth's genitals and began to perform oral sex on the teenager.

According to the statement of fact presented at MacDonald's Nov. 25 trial, the reeve became "seemingly infatuated" with his victim, seeking him out two or three times a week, calling the victim at home and following him around Lancaster. The teenager began skipping school, missing a total of one semester of classes and he became increasingly aggressive. Eventually the victim was arrested and charged with assault but even in jail he could not escape his tormentor. Unable to stay away, MacDonald visited the youth on one occasion. "He's a monster," said the victim's father. It's a relief it's over. 

For this family it has been an agonizing five-year  wait for justice, but for others the wait has been much longer. In handing down his sentence, Judge Hunter referred to MacDonald's long history of pedophilia which began prior to MacDonald's marriage. "Our society through its justice system struggles to find a balance between an eye for an eye and what I call misguided naiveté," stated the judge as he handed down his sentence. "I hope I have struck the appropriate balance."