Career criminal declared dangerous offender

EDMONTON A judge in Edmonton has declared a career criminal whose violent attacks go back decades a dangerous offender.

Lance Blanchard, 60, was in court Friday to hear the decision by Justice Eric Macklin.

“I have reached the conclusion that Mr. Blanchard is a dangerous offender and poses a high risk for both violent and sexual recidivism,” Macklin said in court. “I am satisfied that Mr. Blanchard constitutes a threat to the life, safety and physical well-being of other persons in the community.

“He has shown a pattern of repetitive behaviour.”

With the designation, Blanchard will spend an indefinite time in prison and won’t be eligible for parole unless he gets treatment that shows he can safely be managed in the community.

Blanchard was convicted in 2016 of kidnapping and sexually assaulting an Indigenous woman who was jailed to ensure her testimony. The woman was also made to ride on at least one occasion in the same van taking her accuser to the courthouse.

Tom Engel, Blanchard’s lawyer, said he’s not surprised by the dangerous offender designation.

“It appeared that the die was cast a long time ago for him to be DO’d,” he said outside court. “Speaking for Mr. Blanchard, who obviously maintains that he was innocent of the charges that he was found guilty on, he has waited a long time to file an appeal on those convictions.

“He couldn’t do so until this matter was complete.”

Despite the possibility of an appeal in the 2016 case, the prosecutors were content with the dangerous offender status for Blanchard.

“This is the ruling that was sought by the Crown, this is the ruling that protects society from the future risk of Mr. Blanchard,” Crown prosecutor Chantelle Washenfelder said.

“It’s been a long, complicated prosecution but the road for the prosecution has been much, much shorter than that of the victims ... who have suffered for over 40 years carrying the scars from the actions of Mr. Blanchard.”

His convictions include no less than 10 violent offences, including at least two sexual assaults.