12/03/24
April 04, 2010
Ex-coach Graham James pardoned for sex abuse that rocked NHL : Graham James, the junior coach convicted of sexually abusing his players in a case that rocked the hockey world from house leagues to the NHL, has been pardoned by the National Parole Board of Canada. Though the pardon was granted 3 years ago, it comes to light only now as a result of a previously unknown accuser contacting Winnipeg police. The Prime Minister's Office, notified of the pardon by The Canadian Press, called it a “deeply troubling and gravely disturbing” development that demands an explanation from the parole board. Mr. James, now 58, pleaded guilty to sexual assault after 2 of his former teenaged players, including ex-NHL player Sheldon Kennedy, came forward with their stories of abuse at his hands from 1984 to 1995. In 1997, Mr. James was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison. A pardon does not erase a person's criminal record, but it means the information is kept in a separate file and doesn't show up on checks of the Canadian Police Information Centre, a key law-enforcement database used by the RCMP and other police forces. In the case of someone convicted of serious sex offences, the criminal record is kept apart from others, but the name is flagged in the CPIC system. According to the parole board, that means details of the person's conviction would be discovered by a check that takes place if they apply to work with children, the disabled or other vulnerable people.
posted by tommytrump to hockey at 10:12 PM - 3 comments
Does it scare anyone else that Graham James could be their children's school bus driver?
No. It's one thing to get a pardon, it's another thing to think you'll be able to escape the glare of the media.
He's also not likely to just grab kids off the street/bus to abuse them. His abuse history has always been about having some sort of control over the victims (coach vs player).
If I found out that he was coaching (or teaching or mentoring) children, that would raise alarm bells for me.
posted by grum@work at 11:33 AM on April 05, 2010
I mean the fact that he went overseas to continue coaching was a slap in the face to his victims, but considering the gravity of this case in the history of sport/society ... a slap in the face would surely be welcomed compared to the blow this really dealt.
Kind of takes teachable moment from this right out at the knees, no?
posted by Spitztengle at 08:29 PM on April 05, 2010
How does a convicted multiple offender get a pardon?
Only possible way this makes any sense is that he has some dirt on someone within the justice system.
Does it scare anyone else that Graham James could be their children's school bus driver?