It’s good news that Thane Aubrey Moore isn’t going to Dawson City.
The decision wasn’t good for anyone.
The New Brunswick judge’s ruling wasn’t good for Dawson City or the territory. And it certainly wasn’t doing Moore any favours either.
The violent felon is to be released from Dorchester Penitentiary on Sunday.
Until a last-minute change on Monday morning, he was expected to move to Dawson.
It’s a small town and it’s angry.
A petition against Moore was in the works, a poster campaign would have ensured his face was known throughout the Klondike and residents were urging local businesses not to hire him.
The fear and anger was understandable.
Moore’s not a nice customer.
In 1993, a 21-year-old Prince Edward Island woman picked up Moore, who was hitchhiking.
In return, he sexually assaulted her and kicked, punched and choked her into unconsciousness twice.
The woman was hospitalized for five days and suffered a pierced eardrum and required stitches to her mouth and right ear.
Today, Moore has served his entire 14-year sentence and leaves prison a mostly free man.
And, because of that, Moore is one of those terrible cases for which the legal system has no good answers.
The Parole Board of Canada considers him dangerous and at high risk to offend again, noting he still exhibits hostility towards women.
And so, the judge placed restrictions on his release, prohibiting alcohol, drugs and the possession of firearms. Moore also has to keep the peace and must report to the RCMP once a week.
He is also prohibited from visiting Whitehorse, where he has threatened 13 people and their families.
By placing Moore in Dawson City, the judge would have ensured the man was monitored.
There, it would have been difficult for Moore to lose himself in the crowds of a larger centre. In some ways, that might render him less dangerous to society.
But that would have been faint consolation to Dawson.
And putting him in a small town would have brought him into conflict with residents more often.
As a result, Moore’s own frustrations and anger would probably have been exacerbated.
It is impossible to believe Moore had much of a chance to establish a new life in such a place.
As well, there is little if any programming for Moore in the community, though it’s unlikely he would have sought it had it been available.
So, within a week some community will receive a dangerous new resident.
It won’t be Dawson.
And that’s probably for the best. (RM)