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06/27/06
Nightmare in Armstrong By Lee Hanlon
Criminology Column, The Cascade News 55-year-old Paul Robert LePage was arrested on Thursday, May 18, 2006 for the abduction of an 11-year-old girl in Armstrong, BC. LePage was charged with kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault. Because the victim is a minor her name can no longer be published.
LePage has an extensive criminal history in property crimes, drug crimes and, yes, sexual assault. And, he has already served a good 20 some odd years in prison. If LePage is convicted of either or both the current charges he will be sentenced for a life term. Ha!! He's already done that! But, in Canada there is no such thing as life.
Just how many times will it take for those in the criminal justice system to wake up and start advocating for the protection of society and the rights of victims? What must we, the people do to demand of the courts to seek and pursue justice? When will those in the criminal justice system wake up and smell the coffee and stop giving convicted offenders more rights than those that are law-abiding citizens? When will the rights of the victims come first and foremost?
A person can serve 10, 15 and even 25 years and pretty much get out on parole, unless you of course are Paul Bernardo or Terry Driver.
In a life sentence parole is also for life. But the point is you are no longer in jail. You may be on parole, but as you are no longer confined behind bars there is nothing stopping you from committing another crime. Just what was LePage doing living on the streets of Armstrong and why wasn't the public made aware of his presence? LePage, at the time of this offence had no fixed address and was considered a transient. When the 11-year-old victim was found she was wandering the streets of Armstrong. Fortunately, shortly after the authorities found the victim they found the accused, arrested and placed him in custody. Returning to the previous charges and convictions of LePage makes one wonder just how he got out of jail. In my opinion, LePage should never have been released. It also makes one wonder how he managed to get away living on the streets. After serving over 20 years for the previous convictions one would think that he would be on parole and would have to give an address to his parole officer. Again, this makes one wonder just how did he slip through the cracks? In my opinion, due to his previous convictions, LePage should have been given "dangerous offender" status. Ask yourself which member of the criminal justice system had the brain freeze this time? If LePage had been categorized as a dangerous offender he never would have been released and a little 11-year-old girl would not have been his latest victim.