Fallout from James pardon continues
Posted Apr 5, 2010 8:21 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Another alleged victim of convicted and pardoned former junior hockey coach Graham James is speaking out.
Theoren Fleury says he, like many others, is disappointed that three years ago, the national parole board granted James request for a pardon.
The former junior hockey coach was sentenced to three and a half years in prison after being convicted in 1997 of sexually assaulting two players.
Fleury, who has also filed a complaint about James with Winnipeg police, says instead of focusing on the past, it’s time to focus on the future and what can be done to help other young sex abuse victims.
He says this is the perfect opportunity to being the lobby to change the law.
Former NHL’er Sheldon Kennedy, who claims he was sexually abused by James more than 300 times in the mid-80’s says he can’t believe James has been granted a pardon.
The Prime Minister’s was shocked by the disclosure and wants to know the reasoning behind the decision, calling it “deeply troubling and gravely disturbing.”
Former Calgary MP Art Hanger, who is now a member of the Canadian Justice Board, calls the decision reprehensible.
Calgary Sun sports columnist and Jack-FM co-host Eric Francis tells 660News James has never shown remorse for his actions, and he fears without the proper checks he could re-offend.
The whereabouts of 58-year-old James is unknown, although it’s believed he is not in the country.
The pardon does not erase a criminal record, but in James’ case his sexual abuse conviction would not come up during a routine police check.
However, if James applied to work with children, a red flag would pop up.
