Residents rally against high-risk sex offender James Conway moving to Mission

Concerned residents of Mission are gathering this afternoon to protest the relocation of high-risk sex offender James Conway.

The move comes after residents in Abbotsford voiced their concerns about the 41-year-old’s presence in their community.

Regardless of the community’s rally, BC Corrections spokesperson Amy Lapsley said in a statement that “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.”

Lapsley goes on to say that “neither BC Corrections nor police have the legal authority to dictate in which community an offender can or cannot live, beyond any direction provided by the court. As well, consistent with mandatory privacy legislation, BC Corrections has the authority to share information with law enforcement agencies in advance of an offender’s relocation so we can co-ordinate the supervision of those offenders. We do not have the authority to share that information with other parties before the public notification. This is consistent with both legislation and past practice when issuing notifications in other communities.”

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.

When he was released from custody in February 2015, he planned to live in Surrey. However, he was arrested nine days later for allegedly sitting beside a teenage girl on a bus, breaking one of his conditions of his release.

In April 2015, he planned on moving to Delta but eventually ended up in a halfway house in Abbotsford. Conway’s decision to take up residence in Abbotsford was met with concern and complaints from the community.

Now with the news of Conway potentially relocating to Mission, residents are taking action and holding a rally outside the municipal hall to protest the sex offender’s move.

While BC Corrections “appreciates” the concerns of the community and Mission Mayor Randy Hawes, Lapsley said, “we must act within the limits of our authority. Since the public notification on July 31, we have been in ongoing contact with the city to provide them with relevant information.”

BC Corrections said they offered to meet with small groups of community members along with local police and Community Living BC representatives about residents’ concerns but that a larger, more public forum, would be inappropriate.

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 and Justin McElroy