OTTAWA–Graham James, the junior coach convicted of sexually abusing his players in a case that rocked the hockey world, has been pardoned by the National Parole Board, The Canadian Press has learned.Though the pardon was granted three years ago, it comes to public light only now as a result of a previously unknown accuser contacting Winnipeg police.
A shocked Prime Minister's Office, notified of the pardon, called it a "deeply troubling" development that demands an explanation from the parole board.
James, now 58, pleaded guilty to sexual assault after two of his former teenaged players, including ex-NHLer Sheldon Kennedy, came forward with stories of abuse from 1984 to 1995. James was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison in 1997.
His whereabouts are unknown.
"I'm not forgiving of what is going on here," Kennedy told The Canadian Press Sunday night. "He can go and do whatever he wants to do and he can bluff his employers because nobody knows what his background is because it's erased."
Kennedy added, however, that putting James back in the public spotlight could be a good thing.
"Graham's conviction brought with it a lot of change and his pardon coming to light is only going to bring more change," he said.
The latest accuser, who says his encounter with James preceded Kennedy's by four years, is still deciding whether to follow former NHL star Theoren Fleury in lodging a formal complaint with police.
Fleury went to police in January after publishing a memoir detailing years of alleged abuse by James.
"I'm shocked and mystified," said Fleury in a statement Sunday.
"Obviously nobody was proud of the decision or it wouldn't have been a secret."
The latest accuser spoke to The Canadian Press on condition he not be identified. He was never coached by James but said he was targeted in 1979-80, as a player with prospects.
Now a lawyer, the man said he learned of James's possible pardon through recent discussions with Winnipeg police.
The Canadian Press subsequently discovered that James was pardoned on Jan. 8, 2007. The pardon was signed off by Pierre Dion, a full-time member of the Appeal Division of the National Parole Board who also has a clinical psychology practice in Ottawa with court experience in child protection cases.
Dion was appointed by the Liberals and re-appointed by the Conservatives. He could not immediately be reached for comment.
A pardon does not erase a person's criminal record, but it means the information doesn't show up on checks of the Canadian Police Information Centre, a key law-enforcement database used by police forces.
In the case of someone convicted of serious sex offences, the name is flagged in the CPIC system. According to the parole board, that means details of a conviction would be discovered by a check done when a person applies to work with children or other vulnerable people.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, while noting the independence of the parole board, expressed shock the government is learning of the pardon only now.
"The Prime Minister has asked for explanation" said Dimitri Soudas.
3 1/2 years in prison, are you kidding me, and let's print the name of each individual that is responsible for Graham James's freedom so they can personally appologize to the next bunch of innocent kids he victimizes and takes the life right out of them. Innocent children verses sick pedophile, who would you grant rights to? The consequences to child sexual assult does not compare to the damage it causes the victim for the rest of their lives, even with therapy (which costs the victims money) Let's look at this 3 1/2 year out of Grahams life to show him that what he did was wrong. How many years do you think it has taken Sheldon Kennedy to forget about it? He will never be able to forget it completely. I know I am a victim as well. We need to finally start protecting our young from such preditors. It is not just that one child that is impacted for life but their loved ones, and then their families and friends are all impacted by such a traumatizing experience. 3 1/2 years for over 350 times poor Sheldon had to be a victim but the accused that pleads guilty only gets 3 1/2 years. I think it should be more like 35 years which then he would hopefully be too old to abuse any other young boys and taking the spark out of their hearts. Whomever is responsible for setting the bar of consequences for such a crime has not experienced any child abuse or does not have a loved one that has had to suffer at the hands of a sick man like James. If they did the consequences would be a much harsher penalty. 3 1/2 years are you kidding me!!!!!!!
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