Twin Sex Offenders Released in Edmonton Show Long History of Deviant Behaviour

By Julia Wong
Global News

Two sex offenders, who are also twin brothers, are now living in the Edmonton area. Police say they are likely to re-offend and parole documents show why investigators believe that will happen

Two repeat sex offenders, twins Lyle and Cyle Larsen, are living in Edmonton, and officials warn they will likely victimize children again.

Parole documents obtained by Global News show the extent of the Larsen brothers’ criminal histories. Glori Meldrum, an advocate for child victims of sexual violence, said the public has the right to know exactly where they live and why they keep winning release when they’re still a danger.

“I don’t know how they’re getting out of jail in the first place,” said Meldrum, the founder and chair of Little Warriors. “Why wasn’t the sentence long enough to keep them there when we know they’re not rehabilitated?”

Parole documents show Lyle Larsen was convicted of sexual interference and printing child pornography in 2009 after he “sexually assaulted and photographed [an] underage victim at a party,” violating a probation order that he not be alone with anyone under 14.

He had previously been convicted of sexually offending against another underage girl.

A psychological assessment dated April 2013 stated Lyle had “sexual deviance dating back to when [he] was 10 years old.” It estimates Lyle victimized another 19 girls and boys ranging in age from four to 17.

“The psychologist concluded that you were in the moderate to high risk range to sexually re-offend. The psychologist learned that your sexual focus is for girls aged four to six.”

“You will need to be strictly monitored for any potential contact with children in the community. Should you find yourself under stress in the community, your risk of sexually offending will increase.”

In 2013, Lyle was given statutory release, which is mandatory once an offender has served two-thirds of his sentence. The remaining third is served under supervision.

But the Correctional Service of Canada recommended Lyle’s release be revoked after inappropriate behavior towards a female caseworker. He was released again in April 2014 but the next month, Children’s Social Services received a complaint about him.

“You violated your condition of release when you were observed to be associating with an 11-year-old girl who suffers from autism, epilepsy and a chromosomal anomaly,” the documents read.

“You were only in the community a short period of time before you engaged in deceitful behaviours that put yet another child at risk. The board is satisfied that given your actions, your deceitful behavior and that you were in the company of a female child, your risk to the community did become unmanageable and that your actions were within your own control.”

Again, his statutory release was revoked.

The documents also state Lyle exhibits high-risk behavior toward adults.

“You became fixated on a female staff member and reported to carving her initials onto your body. You indicated that the first carving (on your chest above your heart) was an expression of love … You used a thumbtack to carve the initial of your primary care nurse into your chest… You later carved her initials into your shoulder, leg and hand, totaling five carvings in all.”

Lyle was released again in December 2016 on a number of conditions, including that he not attend a park or swimming area with children under 16; not attend a daycare, school or playground; and not use a computer to communicate with children under 16.

“The Edmonton Police Service has reasonable grounds to believe he will commit another sexual offence against someone under the age of 18,” said a news release at the time.

Lyle’s twin Cyle Larsen also has an extensive criminal history.

As a youth, he was convicted of sexual interference against a six-year-old, and he admitted to other sexual offences for which he had never been charged, parole documents say.

He served two years and nine months behind bars after he lured at 10-year-old girl to a basement and sexually assaulted her.

“Current and prior offences are considered violent in that underage, vulnerable children were preyed upon for your sexual satisfaction,” the documents read.

In 2012, Cyle admitted to staring at children out the windows of his grandparent’s home and viewing adult and child pornography, breaking the conditions of his release.

“You stated you knew what you were doing was wrong. … You disclosed that you were unable to control yourself.”

“There is high probability of you re-offending in a similar manner. Your risk is unmanageable to the point that you pose a grave risk to the public.”

Cyle was released again in August 2013 but failed to meet with his psychiatrist despite reminders from his parole officer. He showed little insight into his actions.

“While speaking of your offences, you do not present with any degree of victim empathy and have a difficult time identifying with victim impact. You continue to present as a high risk for sexual deviancy.”

The documents note concerns about the brothers’ interactions.

“You advised that if you and [Lyle] were in a room together, you would be ‘having fun,’ indicating that you would act in a sexually deviant manner together.”

Cyle was released from Calgary Correctional Centre in August 2015 to live in the Edmonton area. At the time, Edmonton police said he posed “a risk of significant harm to the community” and would be monitored by the Behavioural Assessment Unit.

In June 2016, he appeared in court in Edmonton and was issued a 24-month peace bond. A peace bond is issued when a person seems likely to commit a criminal offence but there are no grounds to believe an offence has been committed.

The brothers cannot have contact with one another under their parole conditions.

Canada's justice system a joke 

Meldrum, whose organization is dedicated to the awareness, prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse, said the release of the two sex offenders is disturbing.

“How do they do that and they’re out walking on the street? What does that say? It’s really sad. When people are getting let out and we know they’re going to re-offend, what does that do to protect our kids?”

She’s calling for tougher sentences for child sexual abuse, saying the justice system is a “joke” when it comes to these types of crimes. She also wants officials to publish a list of where sex offenders live after their release.

“People are scared. There’s nothing worse than, honestly, it could happen to your kids, them being a victim of child sexual abuse. People… should be diligent and educated.”

I totally agree with Glori, there is no serious attempt in the justice system to protect potential victims from perverts and pedophiles who are likely to re-offend. Peace bonds and monitoring do virtually nothing. Women and children are hurt, many of them will suffer for the rest of their lives because Canadian judges give slaps on the wrist to incurable deviants rather than locking them as the dangerous offenders they are.

Should judges be charged with child endangerment?

30 Days in Jail for Edmonton Doctor Convicted of Sexual Assault, 30 Days!

I'm surprised they didn't give him a pat on the back and a gold watch.

Canadian sentences are so lame.

Dr. Ismail Taher will be on probation for two years after completing sentence

By Janice Johnston, CBC News


Dr. Ismail Taher leaves court with his wife while awaiting sentencing for sexual assault and assault convictions. (Janice Johnston/CBC)

An Edmonton, Alberta, Canada doctor was sentenced Wednesday to 30 days in jail after being convicted last month of sexually assaulting a nurse at a Medicentre in 2013.

"I am imposing a short jail term because I know it will have a profound effect on Dr. Taher and his family," provincial court Judge Greg Lepp said in his sentencing remarks Wednesday.

"Dr. Taher has been blessed with all of life's advantages," Lepp continued. "He abused his position for selfish, prurient and unwholesome reasons.  He had no excuse. There is no remorse shown here."

So why don't you give him the sentence he deserves, at least 3 years.

After he completes his jail term, Taher will be on probation for two years, Lepp said. He will be allowed to serve his sentence intermittently on weekends.

Taher received a two-year suspended sentence on a second conviction for common assault against a female manager at another Edmonton Medicentre.

Crown prosecutor Laurie Trahan had sought a three- to six-month jail sentence, followed by two years probation and mandatory counselling. "These incidents were not trifling," Trahan told Lepp earlier Wednesday. "They were intentional."

Again, why didn't you ask for a decent sentence. You say the incidents are not trifling yet you ask for a trifling sentence! Is there something you don't get about sex abuse?

But Lepp declined to order counselling. He said he believes the jail sentence will teach Taher, whom he described as an intelligent person, that his behaviour is not to be repeated.

He's so smart he didn't learn anything from the conviction for child sex abuse, for which he was given a suspended sentence. That's 3 assault convictions and he gets 30 days. 

The sexual assault conviction marks the second time Taher has been found guilty of that charge. He was convicted last year of sexually assaulting a teenage patient. 

In June of this year, Taher, 38, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a nurse in the summer of 2013 at an Edmonton Medicentre, and assaulting a female manager at a different Medicentre.

The married father of four young girls was found to have touched the nurse's breast twice and pinched her buttocks. The manager was also touched inappropriately, but the trial judge had a reasonable doubt about the sexual nature of touching, so convicted Taher of assault.  

The trial judge, Shelagh Creagh, said she believed both victims who testified about their ordeals and found Taher to be "misleading, disingenuous and purposely ambiguous."

One of the women Taher assaulted filed a victim impact statement that was read aloud by the prosecutor at the sentencing hearing.

The victim, who cannot be identified wrote, "I came to work feeling happy and normal. Something happened that day which changed me. Dr. Taher sexually assaulted me. He touched me inappropriately and without my consent."

The woman said after Taher touched her breast and pinched her buttocks she wondered, "What could I have possibly done wrong to deserve this?  

"I was a happy person. But after that day, I was emotionally shattered."  

Taher's victims were not in court for the sentencing hearing.

Doctor convicted last year of sexually assaulting teenage patient

Last year Taher was sentenced to 12 months probation after being convicted of sexually assaulting a female teenage patient. The court has been told he voluntarily stopped treating patients in May 2015, but he continues to own and manage a medical clinic in north Edmonton.  
Taher's lawyer said media attention has had "a significant impact" on his business and has resulted in a drop in patients at his clinic.

Defence lawyer Eamon O'Keeffe said media attention has created a hardship for Taher.

"His reputation has taken a hit," O'Keeffe said, "and he's been humiliated.  It's on the internet, so it will basically be there forever."  

When Taher left the courthouse, he became angry with a CBC reporter who took his picture.

Taher's wife put her hand in front of the camera in an attempt to block the next shot, then tried to wrestle the camera out of the reporter's hand. The couple later apologized to the reporter.

Taher's lawyer had asked the judge to consider "who Dr. Taher is and what Dr. Taher means to the community."

O'Keeffe suggested the physician should be given a suspended non-custodial sentence and placed on probation.

He told the judge Taher still faces disciplinary action from the College of Physicians and Surgeons and that it's "not a certainty he'll be allowed to continue practicing medicine."

He absolutely should not!

Anglican Priest Charged with Historical Sexual Assaults in Edmonton

Gordon William Dominey, 63, is alleged to have sexually assaulted five youths in the 1980s

CBC News 

Gordon William Dominey in the 1980s (left), and in 2016 (right.) (Supplied)

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada police have charged an Anglican priest with sexual assault in relation to incidents that allegedly occurred in an Edmonton youth incarceration facility during the 1980s.

Father Gordon William Dominey allegedly sexually assaulted five youths while he was employed at the Edmonton Youth Development Centre in the 1980s. The assaults are reported to have happened at the incarceration facility from 1985 to 1989.

Dominey transferred from the Diocese of Edmonton to the Diocese of New Westminster in Vancouver, British Columbia in July of 1990. He has worked in numerous parishes as an interim priest, which is a clergyman specifically assigned for 6 to 16 months to help churches in transition.

George Cadman, Chief legal officer for the
Diocese of New Westminster

George Cadman, chief legal officer for the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster, says Gordon William Dominey underwent regular legal screening as all priests with the Anglican Church of Canada do. (http://www.boughtonlaw.com/)

"So he was a prison chaplain and then he moved into parish ministry as an interim priest," said George Cadman, the chief legal officer for the Diocese of New Westminster.

He was the priest-in-charge at St. Catherine's Anglican Church in North Vancouver from the summer of 2015 until he was arrested on Thursday Feb, 4. when the Bishop of New Westminster, Melissa Skelton, placed Dominey on administrative leave, according to a release.

Presumption of innocence

"I am offering ongoing pastoral care and support to Gordon in what must be a very difficult time for him," wrote Skelton.

"This support will continue as the legal process unfolds. He is entitled to a presumption of innocence and I ask for your prayers for Gordon, for all those who are involved in this legal process and for those bringing forth the allegations against him."

The 63-year-old was arrested in Coquitlam, B.C.

He is charged with five counts of sexual assault and five counts of gross indecency.

Police began the investigating reports of sexual assaults at the facility in Sept. 2015, and believe there may be more victims and witnesses. 

Victims asked to come forward

Two complainants initially came forward, Staff Sgt. Devin Laforce said. As the investigation progressed, three more people came to police. All of the victims were between the ages of 14 and 17 at the time of the alleged offences, Laforce said.

"There's a lot of complexities with sexual assaults, and it's generally known that is an under-reported crime to police," he said. "It took them a period of time until they were ready to come forward."

EPS is asking anyone with information about "Father Gord" to contact them. 

"We believe that the accused was very actively offending between the years of 1985 to 1989," Laforce said. "We also don't believe we have the whole story as far as what this accused was doing during that time frame."

Regular screening

Meanwhile, Cadman says there has never been a complaint about Dominey during his 26 years in B.C.

"He has always been, I thought, well respected, wherever he went. And as I said, no complaints," said Cadman, adding that the Anglican Church of Canada has a zero tolerance policy towards matters of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment.

"We have had [a policy] in place for at least the last 15 years where there is the opportunity for anybody to bring forward a complaint if they choose to do so," he said.

"And no complaints have ever been brought forward. I, frankly, as chief legal officer of the diocese, I would know if they had, and certainly none have been brought forward in respect of Gordon Dominey."

The Diocese also has a program called screening in faith, which requires all clergy who work with vulnerable people to take part in. Cadman says, because of this program, Dominey would have a criminal record check every two years.

"His last criminal record check was absolutely clean .. filed with the diocese in 2015," said Cadman. "So no suggestion of any impropriety at any stage in this diocese."