Richard Slobodian in a photo posted on Facebook July 2019.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Richard Slobodian
September 16, 2020 - 4:45 PM
A 58-year-old Vernon man who was placed on a court-ordered recognizance, even though he had never been convicted of a crime, has had his probation order terminated by a B.C. judge, six years after it was originally imposed.
B.C. Provincial Court Judge Mayland McKimm cancelled Richard Slobodian's probation order, Sept. 14, following an appeal from his lawyer.
The case dates back to 2014 when Slobodian was placed under strict conditions on a peace bond after the Crown argued they had reasonable grounds to fear that Slobodian may commit a sexual offence against a minor. The seldom-used law allows a judge to place restrictions on a person even though they've never been convicted of a crime.
"Slobodian has never been convicted of a sexual offence," Slobodian's lawyer, who wanted to remain anonymous, told iNFOnews.ca.
The original peace bond included multiple conditions including that he not be allowed within 100 meters of any park where a person under the age of 16 could be present.
While the original peace bond was only valid for 12 months, Slobodian breached the strict orders several times which then saw him put on probation and the order was extended.
"Although he's breached probation a number of times none of those breaches involved specifically contacting children," the lawyer said.
The lawyer said shortly before a three-year probation order was due to expire in August 2019 Slobodian breached it, triggering a further three years of probation.
It's not clear what events led to the court order being placed on Slobodian in 2014.
Slobodian made headlines early this summer after the RCMP released details saying he had been arrested for allegedly taking photos of people at a skate park, which was a breach of his probation.
Slobodian's lawyer says media reports that he was taking pictures of children simply aren't true.
"The RCMP searched his camera after and they found no photos of children," the lawyer said. "He was taking photos of a large piece of construction equipment that was out of place, there was absolutely no evidence he was taking pictures of children."
Slobodian was once fairly well known in Vernon and appeared with his cat during the winter carnival parade.
Following recent media coverage, Slobodian has received multiple threats of violence on social media.
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