DELTA — Even Delta's mayor, Lois Jackson, doesn't know where high-risk sex offender James Conway will be staying in her municipality.
"I haven't been informed," Jackson told the Now. He could be in North Delta, Ladner or Tsawwassen.
"It's very troubling to me," Jackson said. "It certainly warrants a story about the justice system and the protection of the many."
Delta Police issued a public notification Tuesday that Conway, 40, has been released from custody and will be moving to Delta.
Sgt. Sarah Swallow said authorities are not divulging the community Conway will be staying in because "we want people to be aware of him everywhere. What we want people to be aware of is that he is the subject of strict monitoring both by caseworkers, BC Corrections and Police,†Swallow said. “However, if he is in the company of a supervisor or caseworker he is able to travel around as long as he is not breaching his conditions. As such, we have taken the steps to release his photo and identity so that people can be aware of him and if he is seen breaching or if there is any concern, the public can call police immediately.â€
In February Conway was released into Surrey but was yanked back into jail nine days later for allegedly violating his conditions.
This time, he is subject to electronic monitoring, is under house arrest and is not allowed to leave his place of residence without being escorted by a caseworker. Police ask anyone who sees Conway violating his conditions to phone 911 immediately.
Delta Police In Surrey's case, Mayor Linda Hepner found out about Conway's release into her city by reading a tickertape news feed across the bottom of her television screen.
She said she was "furious."
She wasn't told where Conway was residing, either.
Conway's criminal history includes sexual interference of a person under 16, sexual assault, arson damaging property, and breaching court orders.
"He has maintained a versatile pattern of sexual offending against female children in a predatory and opportunistic manner," his public notification states.
Conway is an imposing six feet, four inches tall and 276 pound. He's white with brown hair and blue eyes.
"It really disappoints me," Hepner said when he was released into Surrey. "If it were my decision, it wouldn't happen. Everybody needs to be asking the question, going into the election for the feds, where do they stand on this?"
According to the public notification, Conway's conditions include not engaging in any activity that involves contact with people under age 18, including communicating with them on computer.
He must also not volunteer, or work, in a position of trust involving minors and is prohibited from "attending or being within" any public park, playground, school, child daycare centre, community centre, public swimming area "or other sites including churches which offer activities for children or where children under 18 years may congregate."
Conway must also not possess alcohol or controlled substances in any public place, must abide by a daily curfew of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., and not wear any uniforms, "including but not limited to firemen's uniforms, corrections uniforms, search/rescue uniforms, police uniforms, security guard uniforms, or scrubs."
Anyone observing a violation of these conditions is asked to contact police.
tzytaruk@thenownewspaper.com