In a media release, police said 62-year-old William Michael Smith was released on parole on June 28 with conditions to live in Bradford. Police refer to Smith as a “high risk” offender. In 2016 he was convicted of the following offences:
Sexual interference x 15 Inviting intercourse x 4 Printing/Publishing child pornography x 4 Possession of child pornography x 3 Access to Child Pornography Indecent Assault Female Sexual assault Evil x 3
Smith was arrested in Guelph in 2013 after a search warrant was executed at his home.
At the time, police said all the alleged victims in the case were known to him. Among them were three young brothers, according to their mother, who was not named to protect the victims’ identities. In 2013, the mother told CTV News that the incidents with her children happened in 2010, but said her children never opened up. “I had no idea until (CAS) showed up at my door,” he said. Current conditions of Smith’s release include following a treatment plan arranged by his supervisor, no direct or indirect contact with all victims and victims’ family members, and observing a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. He is also not allowed to use the Internet unless it is for the purpose of job hunting and he is not allowed to be in the presence of children under 18 without supervision. He is also not allowed to be in places where children under 16 are likely to be, such as schools and parks.
COMMUNITY REACTION
Bradford residents who spoke to CTV News on Wednesday said the conditions of Smith’s release are not enough to make them feel safe. “It’s scary because I do everything to protect my kids and I teach them, but you can’t protect them all unfortunately,” Brantford resident Amanda Demkiw said. “People need to know exactly where it is,” said another resident Rosenn Barrett. “The number of the house and the street so that they can look after their children.” Police said due to privacy laws they are unable to share where Smith lives, but described him as 6-foot-1, 225 pounds with green eyes and gray hair. Bradford police were not available for an interview, but said the decision to release Smith in Bradford rests with Correctional Services Canada, not them. CTV News reached out to Correctional Services Canada for comment, but did not hear back after the broadcast.
