The public wasn't warned of Taylor Dueck's release to Kelowna, despite repeated offences and a previous public warning in Abbotsford.
(LEVI LANDRY / iNFOnews.ca)
March 06, 2024 - 5:23 PM
A provincial agency's contractor tasked with supervising a convicted sexual predator in Kelowna could have its contracts terminated after the man allegedly assaulted a young girl in a bathroom.
Taylor Dueck is accused of cornering and assaulting the 11-year-old at an equestrian facility in Kelowna, where he was supposed to be under supervision.
That supervisor, under contract with Community Living BC, was instead in his car for more than two hours around the time of the assault, according to Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Renee Merrifield.
The provincial agency, which works with disabled adults in BC, said the contract with company that supervisor works for is under review. Community Living BC also said it will be "participating fully" in a provincial investigation, according to an emailed statement.
"This horrific incident should never have happened. Whenever a service provider is working with someone involved in the criminal justice system, it is (Community Living BC’s) expectation that the service providers work closely with the probation officers to ensure that their staff are doing what they can to secure everyone’s safety," the statement reads.
READ MORE: Supervision lapse for sexual predator in Kelowna a 'complete failure'
The agency doesn't directly provide services, a spokesperson said, but instead works with service providers.
The contractor in this case, which was not named, isn't working with any other person under court-ordered conditions, according to community living.
While the public will sometimes be warned about convicted sexual predators when they move to a community upon their release, that didn't happen this time.
Merrifield brought the February incident up in the BC Legislature where she criticized government policies for prioritizing a sexual predator's privacy over public safety and awareness.
Kelowna RCMP said the detachment sought to alert the public prior to Dueck's release, but the "threshold was not met in this case based on the totality of the circumstances."
The detachment then deferred to BC Corrections for more details. BC Corrections has not responded to a request for comment from iNFOnews.ca.
In 2020, the threshold appeared to have been met when the public was alerted by Abbotsford Police Department that Dueck was moving to the community. He sexually assaulted another young victim within less than two months.
The province is investigating what led to the alleged assault while Dueck was supposed to be supervised and kept away from children.
Community Living BC said it is investigating its own contractor separately. That could end with the contract being terminated.
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