CANADA
Western Star
Diane Crocker
Published on July 13, 2016
The Parole Board of Canada has granted George Ansel Smith full parole.
The retired Roman Catholic priest had been sentenced by the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in Corner Brook in March 2013 to nine years, 11 months and 10 days in prison for 23 counts of indecent assault against a male, nine counts of sexual assault and eight counts of assault with intent.
The offences happened when Smith was a parish priest in several western Newfoundland communities and during trips to the mainland between 1969 and 1989.
In a decision released Tuesday, the parole board said the assaults were planned and included the use of bribes, manipulation, alcohol and threats to gain his victims’ compliance. It also said Smith was under the influence of alcohol during many of the assaults.
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