Sex offender John Collyer will be getting an early release from jail.
The former Bridgewater Police chief was granted full parole by the Parole Board of Canada after they determined he “did not present an undue risk to society.”
In their decision given July 17th, the board said Collyer had adapted well while incarcerated, and has made strides to engage with his release plan and reintegration into society.
The board says it did not receive any written representations from Collyer or anyone on his behalf, but based their decision strictly on file information they had.
They noted his upbringing as a positive one, without abuse of any kind, but also pointed out his difficulties with alcohol abuse, which they say began when he was 18.
They also pointed to this as a contributing factor towards the events that led to his incarceration.
“The Board is satisfied that the contributing factors towards your criminality of personal emotional issues and substance abuse have been correctly identified by CSC,” they said in the decision.
“The stress of your job combined with excessive alcohol abuse allowed you to cross the line in terms of your relationship with the young victim.”
Collyer was found guilty of sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a minor in March, however a conditional stay was ordered on the former charge, due to the principle that an accused cannot be charged for different offences arising from the same actions.
Justice Mona Lynch sentenced him to 15 months for the sexual exploitation charge.
In their decision, the board noted Collyer had not completed any core correctional programming used to address risk factors due to COVID-19.
However, during his incarceration, they say he hadn’t exhibited or experienced any issues or outbursts, and was granted ‘Fence Clearance’ so he could provide lawn maintenance.
Collyer will be eligible for parole on August 3rd, where he will have served five of his 15 month sentence.
Upon release, he is required to follow set conditions, including the prohibition of consuming or possessing alcohol, avoid direct contact with the victim and her family, provide urine samples when requested, and avoid being in the presence, or being in a point of authority, of any person under the age of 18.
He is also ordered to follow the Sex Offender Registry Act for 20 years.
The decision did mention where he would be released to, however that information had been redacted.
Follow Cody McEachern on Twitter at @CodyInHiFi.
