John Ambrose Seward, 27, was arrested Thursday about 10 p.m. after it was reported he had been in a public park earlier in the evening, said Nanaimo RCMP spokesman Const. Gary O’Brien.
Seward was under strict conditions to avoid public parks, swimming pools, daycare centres, school grounds or playgrounds. He was also required to not be alone with anyone younger than 16, and not to possess or carry a weapon or imitation firearm.
Seward arrived in Nanaimo from Vancouver on Thursday and was escorted to his supportive housing by Nanaimo RCMP officers, who told him they would be checking on him to ensure he was complying with the conditions of his release, O’Brien said.
“The safety of our community is paramount and this action was necessary to ensure our community remains safe,” said Supt. Mark Fisher, who heads the Nanaimo RCMP. “If and when Seward is released back into the community, this enforcement action will continue.”
B.C. Corrections issued a notice Thursday afternoon alerting the public that Seward was being released into Nanaimo after serving a five-year sentence for aggravated sexual assault and sexual assault with a weapon.
The notice said Seward has “maintained a pattern of predatory and opportunistic violent sexual offending” and poses a risk to women between 15 and 55 years of age.
Seward admitted to a series of violent sexual assaults in Port Alberni between April and September 2009.
He has been remanded into custody until his next appearance in Nanaimo provincial court on April 7. A judge will determine whether Seward will remain in custody or be released on conditions.
