Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner is furious that “high-risk” sex offender Jeffrey Goddard is living in the city — again.
“Catch and release, catch and release, catch and release,” Hepner said, adding that she has not been told what Surrey neighbourhood he’s living in.
“Most everybody would say enough already. Our officers will be watching for any breach of the multitude of conditions. The fact that this person’s offences are generally against minors begs the question on how locations are determined.”
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B.C.’s Ministry of Public Safety issued a “public notification” about Goddard on Tuesday (Oct. 2), warning locals that he was residing in the city.
Goddard, according to the release, “has maintained a pattern of sexual offending against male youth and adults… in both an opportunistic and predatory manner.” He is also known to communicate with male and female youth by computer, the release notes.
This, after Goddard was the subject of a similar warning in February, 2017 when he moved to Surrey. Officials say he was released from custody on Oct. 2, and is going to be a Surrey resident.
“We have the youngest population in the province. That, to me, would be a signal for exactly where this offender should not be located,” Hepner said Wednesday.
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Goddard is described as Caucasian, five-foot-nine inches tall, 170 pounds with brown hair and green eyes.
In the past, he has presented himself as female, has worn female wigs and used the names Jessica Goddard or Brandy Leanne Goddard.
He has a criminal history that includes sexual assault, invitation to sexual touching and luring under 16, impersonating a police officer and firefighter, as well as failure to comply with probation.
He is currently living in Surrey, and under “close monitoring by authorities.”
As well, he is under 23 court-ordered conditions, which include not communicating directly or indirectly with anyone under the age of 18; not establishing, maintaining or accessing any social-networking sites and websites; and not attending any park, school, day care, pool, playground, skating rink, community centre or recreational centre.
BC Corrections declined to disclose what Surrey neighbourhood Goddard is living in, and said it cannot tell people where they can reside but ensures the location is in compliance with the applicable conditions.
A previous warning was issued in 2015 when he was released into Vancouver.
– with files from Amy Reid
