Dangerous Offender hearing set for serial sexual offender Trevor Pritchard

A long-term or dangerous offender designation could mean Pritchard may be jailed indefinitely. The aim is protection of the public and prevention of future violence. The title is generally used for those offenders who are the most violent criminals and sexual predators.

According to the Criminal Code of Canada (sec. 753), the Crown must show during the hearing:

That the offence for which the offender has been convicted is a serious personal injury and the offender constitutes a threat to the life, safety or physical or mental well-being of other persons
That there is a pattern of repetitive and persistent or aggressive behaviour which may cause death, injury or significant psychological damage
A degree of indifference in the offender
That the offence(s) for which the offender has been convicted is serious personal injury and a failure to control his or her sexual impulses
And a likelihood of causing injury, pain or other evil to other persons through failure in the future to control those sexual impulses

Back in February, Calgary Prosecutors Donna Spaner and Sarah Goard-Baker applied to have a 60-day psychiatric assessment granted.

In her decision to grant the order, Justice Johnna Kubik’s reasons included Pritchard’s four prior sexual assault convictions, sentences exceeding two years, prior psychiatric assessments indicating a similar pattern of offences and the failure on the part of Pritchard to understand those offences.

The assessment has now been completed, although the results were not shared in court.

Pritchard has five sex-related convictions in 2004, 2009, 2010, in Jan. 2019 and again in Feb. 2019.

He is currently serving his time in the Bowden Institution near Red Deer.

by Lara Fominoff

Dangerous Offender hearing set for serial sexual offender Trevor Pritchard

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