Sex offender denied parole decision appeal

A St. John’s man who was living in P.E.I. when he sexually abused an underage girl has lost an appeal of a decision that denied him full parole.

Joseph Gordon MacRoberts was sentenced in 2018 to five years in prison for two sex offences involving a victim who was younger than the age of consent.

Earlier this year, the Parole Board of Canada granted MacRoberts day parole but denied him full parole, saying it was premature and that more work needed to be done before a more liberal release could be considered.

MacRoberts appealed that decision.

After MacRoberts pleaded guilty, the court heard he convinced the victim they were in a relationship.

He committed the offences over a span of several years, and the abuse ended when the victim reported it.

MacRoberts’ plan for day parole included moving back to Newfoundland and Labrador to stay in a community-based residential facility.

The parole board also imposed several conditions including that MacRoberts must avoid any contact with the victim or her family.

He must also report all intimate sexual and non-sexual relationships with females.

In its decision, the parole board’s appeal division said that after reviewing all the information available to it, there was no basis upon which to intervene.

The appeal division said the decision to deny MacRoberts full parole was reasonable and based on “relevant, reliable and persuasive” information.