Skip to content

COURT BRIEFS: Man poses risk to reoffend: expert witness

Brendan-Burke

Hay River

An Alberta man convicted of sexually assaulting a young girl in Hay River poses a high risk to reoffend, a forensic psychiatrist testified during day four of a dangerous offender hearing.One of two expert witnesses taking the stand over the week-long hearing for Cody Durocher, the psychiatrist, Alberto Choy, testified on June 7 that Durocher, 33, was two to three times more likely to re-offend than an "average sexual offender."

Based on clinical and statistical assessments, he said only one to three per cent of sexual offenders would have obtained a higher score than Durocher, who was convicted
in 2016 of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in Hay River.

That was Durocher's fourth conviction for a sexual offence.

He was found guilty for the 2010 sexual assaults of two women in his home province.

Durocher is currently serving federal time at the Bowden Institutution, a medium-security prison south of Red Deer, AB.

Based on a number of assessments conducted on Durocher, the witness told Crown prosecutor Annie Piche that if Durocher were to reoffend outside of jail and in the community, it would most likely be a sexual offence.

Thursday's witness said Durocher required moderate to high treatment needs, as he displayed a lack of understanding as to why he engages in behaviour that has resulted in three sexual assault convictions. The forensic psychiatrist said Durocher's cycle of sexual offences, pattern of victim blaming and his need to be supervised left him to conclude his risk of reoffending would be mitigated if he stayed behind bars until his late 50s or early 60s.

The forensic psychiatrist's clinical-based opinion was echoed by a number of other witnesses who took the stand earlier in the week. Theresa Van Domselaar, also a forensic psychologist, shared a similar opinion about Durocher's likelihood to reoffend during her June 6 statement to the court.

With a slew of serious convictions, the Crown is seeking to designate Durocher as a dangerous offender – a label reserved for criminals with numerous violent or sexual offences.

While convicted for the Hay River sexual assault, Durocher hasn't yet been sentenced. The decision in his dangerous offender hearing will dictate the sentence the court imposes, which could be an indeterminate sentence.

Day one of the hearing heard testimony from Matthew Kennedy, an institutional parole officer assigned to Durocher at Alberta's Bowden Institution.

Kennedy – tasked with monitoring the behaviour and program completion of offenders – told the court he has been assigned to Durocher since January 2015.

Characterizing Durocher's behaviour as going through "peaks and valleys," he testified the offender's time behind bars, in general, hasn't been positive, citing multiple institutional convictions.

Institutional convictions are entered against inmates found guilty of committing an offence behind bars. The bulk of Durocher's convictions, Kennedy said, were for "engaging in the tattoo subculture." He was found with a contraband tattoo gun on one occasion.

Durocher is currently undertaking an Indigenous-focused high-intensity sexual offender program after being suspended from a similar program for disrupting the class.

A total of nine witnesses were scheduled to testify during the dangerous offender hearing. It could take until December for a decision to be rendered.

The Hay River sex assault made national headlines after it was revealed the victim was arrested by RCMP for a probation violation rather being taken to hospital.

 

RCMP advise public following child luring conviction

NWT

Police are reminding the public about the risks associated with Internet use following a recent child luring conviction.

Joshua Jeremick'ca, 27, was found guilty on May 30 of luring a child by means of telecommunication.

Between Dec. 30, 2016 and Jan.13, 2017, Jeremick'ca communicated with a victim under the age of 18 in a northern NWT community for the "purpose of facilitating the commission of an offence contrary to the Criminal Code," court documents show.

Jeremick'ca communicated over Facebook with the victim and requested they exchange explicit photos.

Using online platforms to "entice youth under the age of 18 to meet for sexual acts or to help arrange sexual encounters is a crime," the RCMP stated in a news release issued June 5.

NWT territorial court Judge Robert Gorin later sentenced Jeremick'ca to nine months in jail, followed by 15 months probation.

In the news release, RCMP didn't reveal the man's name and instead focused on educating the public about Internet safety following the conviction – the result of an investigation launched by the Mounties in January of last year.

"RCMP would like to remind parents and caregivers of the importance of teaching Internet safety for children and youth," stated the news release, adding an adult communicating with a child in a sexual way needs to be reported to law enforcement.

The police emphasized a number of ways parents can highlight the risks to their children in order to encourage safe online practices, including by reminding youths not everyone they engage with on social media or online is who they say they are.

Mounties also stressed the importance of children coming forward to police if someone online makes sexually suggestive messages, sends or asks for nude images, or asks to meet in person.

"We want any potential victims to know that if they believe they are being exploited, they can come forward and we can investigate the file thoroughly," stated RCMP spokesperson Marie York-Condon. "What's important to take away from this case, is that we have the ability to investigate this type of file thoroughly, bring it to the court process and gain a conviction, thereby punishing those who have preyed upon the young in the Northwest Territories."

Jeremick'ca was convicted of sexual assault in 2011.

 

Second week of McNeely's preliminary inquiry wraps up

Radilih Koe'/Fort Good Hope

The second stage of a three-part preliminary hearing for a Fort Good Hope man accused of murder wrapped up in the community last week.

Colten McNeely, 25, is charged in the September 2017 death of Lloyd Edgi in Fort Good Hope.

Edgi was 28 years old at the time of his death, the cause of which has not yet been released.

Last week's continuation of McNeely's hearing to determine whether the Crown has enough evidence to take the case to trial followed an initial stage that took place in Yellowknife in early April.

Three witnesses took the stand to testify during the Yellowknife portion of the hearing.

Several civilian witnesses testified during last week's continuation in Fort Good Hope.

Evidence presented throughout the preliminary inquiry cannot be published. A final week of the hearing will take place in the community at a later date.

McNeely is barred from contacting 12 people believed to be associated with the case.