Convicted sex offender breached parole conditions
Convicted sex offender Peter Hoyles of Cormack, on the province’s west coast, is back in federal custody after being picked up by the RNC in Paradise Saturday for violating conditions of his parole.
Hoyles was convicted on Oct. 21, 2016 of two counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual interference and one count of uttering threats following a trial in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in Corner Brook. The assaults were against a 14-year-old girl and occurred in 2011.
Hoyles had also been convicted of two separate sexual assaults of a 14-year-old girl that occurred in 2013, and convicted of threatening that girl and her family.
Hoyles had appealed the conviction and sentence, but the Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court of Appeal last July upheld the trial judge’s conviction and sentence.
Conditions of Hoyles’ parole included that he not be in presence of young people. It has been alleged he violated the conditions by working at the canteen.
Hoyles obtained a job at Canteen Matters — a branch of Coffee Matters — at the Paradise Double Ice Complex. Not only do hundreds of young people frequent the facility, but some employees at Canteen Matters were also of a young age.
The RNC says officers went to the Paradise Double Ice Complex about 5:30 p.m. Saturday and took Hoyles into custody.
The Town of Paradise issued a second statement Wednesday apologizing to residents and users of the facility.
“The Town of Paradise takes this issue very seriously. We apologize that this matter occurred and we do understand and we share the concerns of residents and user groups about this issue,” the statement reads. “We want to stress that all town employees who work directly with youth and vulnerable populations undergo appropriate checks, including vulnerable sector checks.
“We are committed to taking the steps necessary to ensure the safety and security of those who use town facilities. At this time, the town is reviewing all existing agreements to ensure appropriate checks are in place for those external providers who serve youth and vulnerable populations at town facilities.”
A town statement on Tuesday said an RNC investigation is ongoing into the matter.