SEXUAL OFFENDER DENIED PAROLE

A man serving a sentence for sexually assaulting a teenage girl in Prince George has been denied parole.

In a decision issued this week, a Parole Board of Canada panel found that Stephen Francis Erickson has only recently admitted full responsibility for the offence and has not yet completed core programming.

Panel members said he did complete a primer program in October 2020 but his ability and commitment to using the skills required to manage his risk “needs a lot of improvement.”

“The facilitator noted you presented as unmotivated to address your risk areas and your written work was superficial and lacked effort,” the panel continued.

Due to COVID, Erickson has not had the opportunity to take additional programs, the panel noted.

Erickson told the board he does not intend to return to Prince George and would like to be released to a halfway house in the Lower Mainland.

Erickson was sentenced in February 2020 to three years in jail less credit of 36 days for time spent in custody prior to sentencing.