Sex offender granted day parole
A Charlottetown man who is serving a seven-year sentence for sexually abusing a girl 15 years younger than him has been granted day parole. Shane Douglas Doucette was sentenced in 2014 after pleading guilty to sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching and failing to appear in court.
In a recent decision, the Parole Board of Canada granted Doucette day parole under strict conditions, including that he not be in contact with children younger than 18 unless supervised. Doucette’s contact with the victim started with inappropriate conduct toward her when she was eight, but it escalated until he was having sexual intercourse with her on a regular basis.
In statements he made to the police, Doucette told them it was a consensual relationship and that age was just a number.
The board said at times Doucette forced the victim to engage in the abusive activity through physical abuse and other manipulative behaviours. Those factors and that Doucette let the abuse develop to the extent it did over a long period of time were aggravating when assessing his risk to reoffend, the board said. The parole report listed assessments Doucette underwent in prison, including two that found his risk of sexual reoffending was high. During his incarceration, Doucette completed several programs, including one specific to sex offenders. Based on file information and Doucette’s comments at his hearing, the board said it believed his serious convictions and the reality of his first prison sentence have acted as a “considerable deterrent” to further offences.
The board said it believed Doucette has taken responsibility for his offences, has been engaged in his correctional plan and has made progress.
“Overall, the board believes you are very much a work in progress but there has been measurable and observable positive change since the start of your sentence.”
The board said Doucette committed a crime that caused serious harm to his victim and any contact with her or her family could lead to conflict and a risk of reoffending. “Your victim does not need further trauma by exposure to you.”
The victim no longer lives in P.E.I. While on day parole, Doucette is also banned from places where children younger than 18 are likely to be, such as schools, parks and swimming pools, unless he is supervised.
Doucette is banned from consuming, buying or possessing drugs or alcohol other than prescribed or over the counter medication taken as recommended by the manufacturer. He must also report any intimate sexual and non-sexual relationships or friendships with anyone who has parental responsibilities for children younger than 18.
Doucette will live in a halfway house while on day parole.