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Crown seeks a minimum of 20 years in McColeman sentencing

Diagnosed a same sex pedophile, Espanola man designated a Long-Term Offender for 10 years
mccoleman
Diagnosed a same sex pedophile, Paul McColeman will be designated a Long-Term Offender for 10 years.

Paul McColeman will be designated a Long-Term Offender for 10 years.

On Day 1 of the sentencing hearing, the Crown revealed it is seeking a minimum 20-year jail sentence. The Crown also wants McColeman to submit a DNA sample, to be listed on the Sex Offenders Registry for life, a lifetime ban on weapons, community supervision and no contact with the victims while he is in custody.

They are also seeking delayed parole eligibility at one half of his sentence or no sooner than 10 years, whichever comes sooner.

Currently, McColeman is technically eligible to apply for parole after serving one-third of his sentence.

However, the Crown said McColeman's clear and unequivocal lack of remorse in committing his crimes should be an aggravating factor in deciding his sentence. Other aggravating circumstances should include the fact the abuse started when the victims were between the ages of 11 and 13, as well as the fact McColeman was in a place of trust with at least six of the victims when he violated that trust.

“He has shown no remorse, and is quick to blame others,” said Assistant Crown attorney Kara Vakiparta, who painted a picture of a “dark world,” where McColeman drew in vulnerable young boys, got them to trust in him, and then he preyed upon that trust.

Not only is he not accepting responsibility for his actions, he blaming everyone else including victims, the police, the media and even his lawyer, she said.

For seven years, she said, McColeman purposefully sought out young boys and gained their trust, and once they got roped in, that dark world got darker and darker and the victims didn't realize just how dangerous it was.

She said many of the victims were “easy prey,” coming from financially disadvantaged families or lacking a father figure in their life.

“These boys in Espanola were all vulnerable to this sexual predation, and the most vulnerable fell for it.

“These boys will have to live the rest of their lives with what they did, and once they are older, it will start weighing on them more and more.”

Not only do they have to overcome that, but they have to overcome substance abuse and addiction, Vakiparta said.

The defence is seeking 12 to 13 years minus pre-custody credit and no restrictions when paroled.

Also on Day 1, the results of the psychiatric assessment conducted by Dr. Philip Klassen revealed McColeman has been diagnosed as a same sex pedophile.  

The long-term offender designation was created in 1997 and is intended mainly for sexual offenders at high risk of re-offending upon their release. They are supervised for up to 10 years after their release. 
 


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Arron Pickard

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