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High-risk sex offender arrested in Surrey nine days after release

WHALLEY — High risk convicted child molester James Conway was arrested on a bus in Whalley for breaching his conditions just nine days after he was released from prison.

Transit Police say he boarded a bus at the Surrey Central bus loop Tuesday morning around 8 a.m. and sat down on a booth seat beside a 14-year-old girl, despite other seats being available.

He was being monitored by members of the Transit Police Crime Reduction Unit, and was arrested shortly after.

Conway was breaching two of his 27 conditions, one that stated he could not sit in a booth seat next to anyone who appeared to be under 18 and another that stated he must have a copy of his order on his person at all times to provide to police.

The 40-year-old, who had been in jail for previously breaching his release conditions while on transit last April, was residing in a half-way house in Surrey since his release.

In that incident, another passenger noticed his staring at young girls, looking down their shirts and talking to them while showing them a teddy bear. He was arrested, charged and convicted of breaching his conditions of released and sentenced to 10 months in jail and three years of probation.

In addition to breaching court orders, Conway’s criminal history includes sexual interference of a person under 16, sexual assault and arson damaging property.

Jasbir Sandhu, New Democrat MP for Surrey North, called the situation “crazy.”

“Clearly this guy is dangerous,” Sandhu said. “I’m very concerned as a father. Safety should be a number-one concern for any government.”

With files from Tom Zytaruk

areid@thenownewspaper.com