Kamloops RCMP issues public notification as sex offender set to be released under house arrest
Taylor Dueck pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a person under 16 years of age in Kelowna, B.C., last year
RCMP in Kamloops, B.C., have released a public notification as a man with a history of sexual offences against children is set to be released on probation.
Taylor Dueck pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a person under 16 years of age at an equestrian facility in Kelowna, B.C., on Feb. 9, 2024.
Now, he is set to be released into house arrest in Kamloops, and RCMP are warning that the "dangerous sex offender" represents a serious risk to children under 16.
Following a prison sentence for the Kelowna assault, Dueck was ordered to be under 24/7 house arrest as part of a three-year probation period, and he will be on the sex offenders' registry for life.
Police say that he is forbidden from being in any public areas — including parks, swimming pools, community centres and playgrounds — where kids under 16 are reasonably expected to be present.
He is also barred from contacting, or being in the presence of, anyone under 16 years old.
"Taylor Dueck will be subject to monitoring in order to ensure compliance with his conditions," reads an RCMP statement.
"Anyone who sees or knows of Taylor Dueck violating any of these conditions is asked to call 911 immediately."
CBC News reached out to RCMP to find out when exactly Dueck will be released into house arrest, but they did not provide an exact date citing privacy concerns.
Furor over lack of previous notification
Parole board documents show Dueck has a history of sexual offences against children, and other police forces have released public notifications over his risk of reoffending.
Following the sexual assault at the Kelowna equestrian facility last year, there was uproar from politicians in B.C.'s governing and opposition parties over why Kelowna RCMP did not issue a public notification that a high-risk sex offender was living in the area.
Following the assault, then-public safety minister Mike Farnworth ordered an investigation into why the public wasn't notified.
In a written statement, the Kelowna RCMP said at the time that it sought a public disclosure order prior to Dueck's release, but "the threshold was not met in this case based on the totality of the circumstances."
Ministry finishes review into case
In a statement issued this January, Public Safety Minister Garry Begg said the Investigation and Standards Office (ISO) found no evidence of systemic issues with B.C. Corrections and policing procedures, but the policy "had not been properly adhered to" in Dueck's case.
The ISO is an independent body established by the Corrections Act that provides oversight to B.C. Corrections.
The province did not make Begg available for an interview at the time, and, citing privacy concerns, did not clarify what policy was not followed.
Recommendations from the ISO investigation include establishing a template for public notifications for police agencies to follow, exploring the feasibility of a public website for such notifications and strengthening language in training materials around the importance of seeking clarity on court-ordered decisions.
In a statement from the ministry on Saturday, it said a working group had been established to look into the report's recommendations. It said that most of the recommendations have now been implemented, including those around a standard public notification template and updated protocols on sharing information.
It added in a statement that work was underway on the recommendation to create a public website for the notifications.
"We are also continuing to press the federal government to strengthen bail reform to help keep people and communities safe," Begg said in the statement. "Mr. Dueck's return to the community is being carefully supervised under strict court-ordered conditions by the RCMP and [B.C.] Corrections to ensure he is adhering to them."
With files from Akshay Kulkarni, Brady Strachan and Liam Britten