Head monk at Cape Breton monastery pleads guilty to voyeurism

The head monk at a Buddhist monastery in rural Cape Breton has pleaded guilty to voyeurism after a guest said he spotted a video camera on the wall.

The case came about aftera38-year-old Texas mannamed Christopher Longoriasaidhe visitedGampo Abbey in Pleasant Bay, N.S., in November 2021.

Longoria said he approached the monastery's head monk,Jack Hillie III, about the camera and headmitted itwas his.

According to court records, Hillie'scharges stem from offences that occurred between December 2020 and November 2021.

The monastery's operators and its umbrella organization, the Shambhala Canada Society, are also facing a civil suit fromLongoria. Itclaimsthe defendants knew or ought to have known that intrusions of privacy were occurring at Gampo Abbey and they failed to take reasonable steps to mitigate the risks.

Halifax-based firm Valent Legal is representingLongoria in the civil suit.Last month, they saidthey wanted to speak to other people who havestayed at Gampo Abbey.

Hillieis scheduled to be sentencedon Nov. 7in Port Hawkesbury Provincial Court.