Kelowna MLA blasts 'total failure' that saw sex offender released

WARNING: This story contains details of sexual assault.

A B.C. MLA expressed anger in the legislature on Tuesday after a sexual offender was released in Kelowna without the public being notified. Taylor Dueck was arrested last month on allegations he sexually assaulted a youth at an equestrian school in the Okanagan city, about 270 kilometres northeast of Vancouver.

During question period, Renee Merrifield, MLA for Kelowna-Mission, said the release of Taylor Dueck into the community without warning and his subsequent arrest has the community fearful and traumatized. 

"How can this NDP government have allowed this total failure to happen, and who is going to take responsibility for this complete and utter failure so it never happens again?" Merrifield said.

Dueck was arrested on Feb. 9 and has been charged with sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching and breach of probation in connection to allegations he sexually victimized a youth at a Kelowna equestrian school.

Speaking during question period, Merrifield said the public was not made aware of Dueck's criminal record, the condition that he have one-to-one supervision at all times, and that he was not to be around children.

Merrifleld claimed that Dueck was at the facility to take lessons.

"While children were arriving for after-school lessons, this convicted child molester's supervisor sat in the parking lot in his vehicle for two-and-a-half hours," Merrifield told the legislature.

"The result was an 11-year-old girl being cornered and sexually assaulted in the bathroom by this predator."

CBC News has reached out to B.C. Corrections for comment on the allegations put forward in the legislature. 

The 29-year-old was released into the community in June of last year after completing his sentence, but a public warning was not issued. 

In a written statement, Kelowna RCMP said they sought a public disclosure order prior to Dueck's release, but "the threshold was not met in this case based on the totality of the circumstances," and referred further questions to B.C. Corrections.

"Someone has to be accountable," Merrifield said. "This girl deserves better. Our community is traumatized."

During question period, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth reiterated comments from last week where he expressed anger over what took place and said an investigation has been launched. 

"Was it a systemic failure or was it a failure of an individual? That work is underway to ensure that this never happens again and so this government most certainly has taken action," Farnworth said Tuesday.

Merrifield responded with anger, saying "our communities are not going to be protected by some investigation and analysis and report."

"People are sick and tired of the premier and this minister's feigned indignation in the face of horrific failures that leave innocent people victimized," she said.

The Parole Board of Canada ruled in October 2022 that Dueck had a "high risk to reoffend" against both strangers and acquaintances, particularly those he considered vulnerable to his advances.

He has been the subject of past public warnings.

A bail hearing for Dueck is scheduled for Wednesday.