10 - Wednesday, January 31, 1996 ~ North Shore News Pedophi ie deemed low risi« yy Cops More sex offenders in jail DESPITE FAILED attempts at counselling, convicted pedo- phile Robert Owens will likely not reoffend in North Vancouver, says a North Vancouver RCMP inspector. By Rickard Ostler Contributing Writer Owens, who lives at 988 Prospect Ave. in North Vancouver, had been judged by the National Parole Board at the last parole hear- ing before his release as an “untreat- ed pedophile” who is iikely to offend again. His neighbors have been trying since last summer to have Owens relocated. “Why are innocent children forced to live in close proximity toa convicted pedophile?” asked Greg Cameron. “This is so fudamentally wrong it’s hard to express in words.” North Vancouver RCMP Insp. Jamie Graham has regular contact with Owens and said he had con- vinced him to attend individual counselling sessions. Owens attend- ed four sessions but after missing two in a row, the program was can- celled. While in prison for sexually assaulting three pre-teen girls, Owens had refused to participate in sex offender and treatment pro- grams. But Graham said Owens has become so well-known in the com- munity it is unlikely he will reof- fend in North Vancouver. “T get to see him continuously,” Graham said. “J know: where he lives, | know where he goes and i 9 Co 9 o° ° SALE know who he associates with.” Under newly enacted legislation, law enforcement officers have asked the courts to deem Owens a risk to public safety and send him back to prison. The court will hear the case in March. A meeting held in Montroyal Elementary School gym on Jan. 24 was sponsored by the community Block Parents and Montroyal School Parent Council. As well as an update from Insp. Graham on Owens, Dr. Randy Atkinson, a forensic psychologist and a professor at Simon Fraser University, gave an assessment of sex offenders and tips on how to street-proof kids. Statistics from the Correctional Service of Canada show a steady increase in the number of sex offenders serving more than two years in prison. From 1990 to 1993 there was an increase of 23% from 3,247 offend- ers to 3,983. In 1994, sex offenders represented 17% of federal prison inmates. “Ten to 15 years ago, we wouldn't have been having this con- versation because there weren’t that many pedophiles around,” said Atkinson. “The number of sex offenders is going up and up and up.” The increase is a result of more complaints recently as well as cases of abuse from the past being brought forward. Atkinson does not anticipate the number of complaints to decline. Results of a recent survey con- See Offenders page 12 o STARTS THURSDAY coverisea FEBRUARY 1ST oS ) FROM 5] BSo2S Cao Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30-5:30 Saturday 9:00-5:30 * Sundays & Holidays 10:00-5:00 OUT OF LOWER MAINLAND 8 ic NOT LISTED specials All Provincial & Imperial , _ Wallcovering Books 99... % DELTA (Factory store) 8380 River Rd. (604) 946-2005 NORTH DELTA 8233 Scott Rd. | ie (604) 594-3477 TSAWWASSEN® 1135 - S6th St. (604) 943-5515 ALLIED SHIPYARDS launched a 19.2-metre (65-foot) catamaran on Friday. vessel will operate on the West Coast of Vancouver Island and the Queen W "NEWS photo Paul The RCMP patrol ‘harlotte Islands. Rescuers battered by ice From page 3 young offenders. The Coast Guard initiated the search at about 4:45 p.m. Coast Guard cutters Osprey and Manyberries were joined by a Canadian Forces helicopter, a hovercraft, a tug, and Coast Guard auxiliary boats from West Vancouver and Snug Cove on Bowen Island. The hovercraft located an instructor and six teens at Raccoon Bay on Anvil Island at 10:10 p.m. To press time Tuesday, Squamish RCMP were comb- ing Anvil Island and its vicinity for a 13-year-old boy who left the group before the rescue. He is described by police as-rescurceful and equipped with food and warm clothing. The Coast Guard assisted Squamish RCMP in a search all day on Monday for the remaining missing teen. Police continued the search Tuesday with a helicopter. Meanwhile searchers contended with fierce winter conditions during the rescue operation. Forty- to 50-knot winds raised six- to seven-foot (two-metre) seas and bone- chilling temperatures. N1150 INTERIOR HI-HIDE VELVET EGGSHELL $47"? X1200 INTERIOR SEMI- GLOSS ACRYLIC LATEX ENAMEL your neighbourhood paint & decorating s¢ source COQUITLAM? (new address) 2568 Barnet Hwy. 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Bowen Island Coast Guard auxiliary vessel, the 30-: . foot (nine-metre) Cormorant, was able to continue because it has a cabin. : Moxey described conditions as “treacherous.” He said the Osprey had to “shut down” every 45 minutes during the search to allow the crew to chip ice off of the ship.: “She was starting to get very heavy and our concerns w with the stability,” he said. 105 FLAT. CEILING & WALL LATEX $qq99 99 200 SEMI-GLOSS ALKYD ENAMEL superior quality si since 1930 RICHMOND* VANCOUVER (new location} 7971 Alderbridge Way $269 Victoria Drive (604) 278-3711 (604) 301-0830 SURREY/FLEETWOOD VANCOUVER #105-15392 Fraser Hwy. 2066 Commercial Dr. (604) 581-7579 (604) 255-7535 ABBOTSFORD WHITE ROCK treninnete snapping Centred #6-32442 Dhalstrom Ave. 4635-15355-24th Ave, . (604) 852-6468 {604} 538-0408