Kentville man convicted of child luring being released under strict conditions
A man who has served two federal prison sentences for sexual offences involving children has been released from jail.
However, Andrew Christopher Barrett, 27, will have special conditions imposed on his statutory release by the Parole Board of Canada.
The parole board handed down its decision March 24.
Barrett, who was convicted in Dartmouth in February 2014 for luring a child under 14 using the Internet and possessing child pornography, is scheduled for statutory release on June 4.
“You have a diagnosis of pedophilia and you have self disclosed being attracted to male and female children between the ages of 10 and 14 years,” the parole board decision states. “There has been no information presented to indicate that you have reduced your risk for sexual recidivism.”
Barrett was sentenced to two years in prison, to be followed by three years of probation. A lifetime Sex Offender Information Registration Act (SOIRA) order was imposed and a DNA order was granted. The court also imposed an order under Section 161 of the Criminal Code that included several conditions.
Police reported that Barrett was having inappropriate contact through social media with a boy.
According to parole board documents, Barrett offered the boy gifts, provided the boy with Barrett’s cell phone number, made sexually explicit comments, sent a sexually explicit video and told the boy he wanted to have sex. Barrett asked the victim to meet him at a hotel.
Barrett was arrested at the residence of close family members and was found in possession of child porn pictures and videos.
In 2007, Barrett was convicted for possession of child pornography, sexual assault, sexual interference and luring a child over the Internet. Barrett was sentenced to two years in prison to be followed by two years of probation.
The victims were a 10-year-old boy, a 10-year-old girl and an 11-year-old girl. The last victim, who was lured over the Internet, was actually an undercover police officer posing as an 11-year-old girl.
Barrett attempted to lure a girl via the Internet and sexually assaulted a boy who was in his care. Police searched Barrett’s residence and found child porn on his computer.
Allegations of sexual misconduct involving a boy and girl were also made but Barrett wasn’t convicted on these counts.
It was noted in a 2008 parole board decision that Barrett provided most of his victims with gifts, including cell phones. During his last sentence, Barrett was on statutory release when he violated a condition regarding text messaging.
A specialized sex offender assessment completed in July 2014 states that Barrett’s risk to reoffend in a sexual manner is very high, an increase from a psychological assessment completed in 2007.
Special release conditions
As part of his release conditions, Barrett must not be in the presence of any male or female children under 18 unless accompanied by a responsible adult who knows his criminal history and approved in writing by his parole supervisor.
Barrett is to have no contact with his victim or any member of the victim’s family and is to have no contact with children under age 18. He is to stay away from places where children under 18 are likely to congregate, such as elementary and secondary schools, parks, swimming pools, recreation centres, unless accompanied by an adult previously approved in writing by a parole supervisor.
Barrett must reside at some form of halfway house, either a community correctional centre, residential facility or private home placement approved by the Correctional Service of Canada.
Barrett is not allowed to purchase, acquire, possess or access any type of pornography and he isn’t to own, use or pos- sess a computer or any technological device that would allow him unsupervised access to the Internet. The ban also includes wireless telecommunication devices.
Barrett must take prescribed medication as directed by a health care practitioner and must follow a sexual deviancy treatment plan or program arranged by a parole officer.