The selection of the Mission property where convicted sex offender is being house has been deemed a conflict of interest after a three-month independent review.
John Hua / Global News
A group of Mission residents rallied outside a home believed to be the new halfway house where high-risk sex offender James Conway is living.
Mission RCMP arrived on scene around 2 p.m. Thursday and entered the house after a small protest began outside.
While no one will confirm if Conway now resides on the property, the group of protesters say they are refusing to leave until authorities find a new place for Conway to live.
Some protesters say they are even discussing camping out over night if that’s what it takes.
The demonstration started when a nearby resident saw someone moving into the house over the weekend – just before BC Corrections announced 41-year-old Conway would be moving from Abbotsford to Mission.
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Spokesperson Amy Lapsley said in a statement earlier this week: “The decision to settle in Mission rested with Mr. Conway and his housing provider” and that they “took steps to ensure the offender’s proposed housing aligned with his court-ordered conditions.”
But according to neighbours, the house they believe to be occupied by Conway is not in an appropriate location.
“The end of Conway’s driveway is a school bus stop where elementary and high school students get picked up, across the street is a high school for young girls and boys, and I live right next door and I have a 10-year-old and a 13-year-old,” said neighbour Melissa Trellert who says she saw Conway in the window of the house.
“I saw a man who appeared to look just like him,” she told Global News.
Due to privacy reasons, police are not confirming whether or not Conway lives in the house, and protesters believe they would have been told if they had the wrong property.
Extensive criminal history of sexual assault
Conway has an extensive criminal history that includes sexual interference of a person under 16, sexual assault, arson damaging property, failure to comply with disposition and breach of recognizance.
Conway is 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 250 pounds. He is Caucasian with brown hair and blue eyes.
He is subject to 25 court-ordered conditions, including:
Remaining in his residence at all times (24 hour curfew) and not leaving his residence unless supervised.
Subject to electronic supervision.
Not engaging in any activity that involves contact with persons under the age of 18, including the use of a computer system for the purpose of communicating with persons under the age of eighteen.
Not engaging in any activities, volunteer work or employment that would put him in contact with any person under the age of eighteen.
Not attending at any public park, playground, school yard, daycare centre, community centre or public swimming area or any other site which offers activities for persons under the age of 18.
Not wearing, for any reason, any uniform which includes but is not limited to, Firemen’s uniforms, Correctional Officer uniforms, Search and Rescue uniforms, Police uniforms, Security Guard uniforms, Nurse uniforms, or any patch or insignia that represents these occupations.
Not travelling alone on public transit.
Not consuming alcohol or be in an establishment where alcohol is for sale.
Not possessing any weapons.
~ with files from Amy Judd, Justin McElroy, and Paula Baker
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