Sex offender restricted
Violent N.B. man released to Vancouver halfway house
Laura Payton, The Province
Published: Tuesday, September 18, 2007

A provincial court judge in Abbotsford has imposed strict conditions on a high-risk sex offender just released from prison.

Thane Aubrey Moore, who served 14 years in prison for beating and raping a woman, was arrested under a section of the Criminal Code that allows police to arrest people they strongly believe will commit a crime.

Moore was released from prison in New Brunswick on Friday and escorted to Vancouver, where he has chosen to live.

Police arrested him at the airport and held him in Abbotsford over the weekend, pending his court appearance yesterday.

Under Section 810.2 of the Criminal Code, the judge banned Moore from possessing weapons, from taking public transit or being in a vehicle with a woman unless pre-approved in writing by his probation officer. He is not allowed to drink or possess alcohol or drugs.

The conditions are in effect for a year and can be requested again.

Vancouver police spokesman Const. Tim Fanning said the high-risk-offender unit will work with Moore's corrections worker, case manager and other officials to monitor him. Moore will live at a halfway house in Vancouver. Fanning would not say where.

"They'll check up on that person, make sure that they are living where they're supposed to be living, that if they have a curfew that they follow that," said Fanning, adding officers can also ask the offender to submit to drug and alcohol testing.

He said residents shouldn't be more worried than usual about their safety.

Section 810.2 is applied mostly to violent sexual offenders who have served their full sentence. The section is used in B.C. about 25 to 30 times a year. About half those cases are in Vancouver.

lapayton@png.canwest.com