Sex predator denied parole
Photo: Castanet
FILE – A Parole Board of Canada decision
A Kamloops-area man who was sentenced for over four years in federal prison for grooming and repeatedly sexually abusing a young family friend has been denied parole.
The man cannot be named under a court-ordered publication ban put in place to protect the identity of his victim. He was convicted by a jury in 2024 on charges of sexual assault, sexual interference of a person under 15 and invitation to sexual touching of a person under 16.
The offences took place between 2016 and 2019, when the victim was between nine and 11 years old.
According to a Parole Board of Canada decision, the man was denied day and full parole in August last year. That decision was upheld on appeal last month.
In his appeal, the man argued the parole board didn’t fully understand his learning disability and his “vague” and superficial” answers were the result of his low level of education. He also argued he followed his bail conditions, doesn’t have other convictions and expressed remorse for his actions.
While he has not been charged with breach offences while on bail, the board found he “at the very least pushed boundaries” or “did not invoke sufficient due diligence” to ensure he was complying with court ordered restrictions regarding being in the company of children, when he went swimming with his girlfriend’s daughter.
The parole board found his institutional behaviour has been “appropriate” and there had been no institutional charges or indication of substance abuse.
The man has completed several programs. The board rated his self-management plans and ability and commitment to use programs to manage his risk as “needing some improvement.”
The board noted mitigating factors including his accepting of responsibility and remorse for his offences, he has good employment prospects, he has some insight into his risk factors, he’s been accepted at a community residential facility and is supported by his girlfriend.
Aggravating factors included the serious and prolonged nature of his offences on his victim, the harm caused, concerns over his following of bail requirements, his average risk of sexually reoffending, his lack of insight into his offending and his skills require improvement.
The board also found he was unable or unwilling to fully discuss his offences and he “demonstrated no insight into the sexual deviancy component.”
“Such a significant gap in understanding of a major component of your offence cycle raises considerable concern about whether your risk can be managed through external measures,” the board wrote.
“Your lack of insight into why you sexually assaulted the victim means you have insufficient internal protective factors to adequately protect the public, and the board finds that external protective measures are insufficient to protect the public at this time.”
The man’s 54-month sentence began when he was taken into custody in January 2024.
Upon being sentenced, the man was required to register as a sex offender for life, he was barred from being within two kilometres of the victim’s home and is prohibited from having any contact or communication with anyone under the age of 16 for 10 years, with the exception of his own children.
