Dangerous offender loses appeal of parole decision

The Parole Board of Canada’s appeal division has upheld a decision to deny parole to a B.C. sexual offender who has been behind bars since becoming the country’s youngest dangerous offender in 1999.

Adam Laboucan was 17 when he was handed an indeterminate prison sentence for sexually assaulting a three-month-old boy in Quesnel.

Laboucan now identifies as female and changed her name to Tara Desousa.

Her last unsuccessful application for parole was in November 2017. She appealed that decision on several grounds, including bias on the part of the board. A decision from the appeal division released Tuesday rejects Desousa’s appeal, dismissing claims that incomplete or erroneous information was used in reaching a quick decision and saying there was “no reasonable apprehension of bias.”

The earlier board decision said it was concerned that Desousa was unable to manage her anger and the appeal division noted the board had factored in Desousa’s Indigenous background.

“The board found that you have experienced negative intergenerational effects as a result, and acknowledged the linkage between your involvement in the criminal justice system and a number of elements in social and family history, including your substance abuse issues.”

The appeal division said the board assessed Desousa’s risk to reoffend and found that rejecting full and day parole was reasonable.