Statutory release for man who abducted ex-partner
A Saskatoon man with a disturbing pattern of domestic violence and jealousy is out of prison and living in a halfway house after getting his legally mandated statutory release this month.
The residency is one of the special conditions imposed on Clint James McLaughlin while he serves the remainder of his six-year sentence — which expires in 2020 — in the community.
Statutory release is intended to help offenders reintegrate after serving two-thirds of their sentence and can be revoked if conditions are broken.
McLaughlin’s release conditions include not contacting his victims or their families and not being within 1,000 metres of their homes. He must also report any female relationships to his parole supervisor, according to a recent parole board decision.
In January 2014 he threatened, beat and choked a former girlfriend when he saw a text from a man on her phone.
Four months later, while he was on electronic monitoring for the January assault, McLaughlin abducted his ex-fiancée, Mariana Cracogna. He accused her of cheating on him and viciously beat her before tying her up and confining her in the box of his truck. Cracogna escaped and was picked up two days later along Highway 16 east of Saskatoon.
In its decision, the board noted that McLaughlin’s previous assault convictions were against former girlfriends. While in prison, he took two domestic violence programs. The board stated he initially justified his abusive behaviour, but began accepting responsibility during subsequent programs.
A psychological assessment determined McLaughlin is still a high risk of reoffending violently toward a romantic partner.
That’s why he needs to take further community programming to gain insight into his jealousy, rejection and anger issues and learn how to deal with relationship stress and conflict, the board reasoned.
Special conditions requiring McLaughlin to follow a domestic violence treatment plan while living at a community residential or psychiatric facility until the completion of his sentence are “necessary in order to protect society and to facilitate (his) successful reintegration into society,” the decision read.
McLaughlin was acquitted of 17 gun-related offences after he was charged in connection with Project Forseti, the 2014 investigation into Saskatoon biker clubs and organized crime.