A man who pleaded guilty to sex crimes against children has been designated a dangerous offender and was handed a prison sentence.
Justice Joseph Kenkel told a Barrie courtroom on Wednesday that Shayne Lund posed a moderate to high risk to harm other people. Kenkel said Lund has a significant chance to reoffend, adding potential treatments are limited at best.
The judge also handed Lund an indefinite prison sentence. It's a sentence that doesn't carry a time frame, but that doesn't make it a life-long sentence. A parole board will determine his release in the future.
Despite being a dangerous offender, Lund can apply for parole in 2020 and day parole in 2019.
"There will never be a time when it will be safe to release Mr. Lund into the community," Kenkel said.
Lund could be seen shaking in the prisoner’s box, as the judge read the decision. Lund’s father could also been seen crying in the courtroom.
The Crown said "he is a rare breed of an offender" and "if he is sincere to take treatment then he can prove that to the parole board."
The 24-year-old pleaded guilty to 34 charges involving a series of sexual assaults on young children.
Avery Taylor and Kathryn Thompson were charged along with Lund back in 2013. They have already been sentenced to jail time.
The defence said this has "opened his eyes to what he has done and the devastation he has caused."
"Mr. Lund apologizes to the community."
During the dangerous offender hearing, the Crown told the court “he is an incurable pedophile" and that "the protection of the public is paramount". The Crown went on to say that "Lund's future is dark, with a long path of evil.”
The defence was trying to fight the dangerous offender designation. They instead wanted something called long-term offender status. This would have seen Lund spend more time jail, but have fewer restrictions upon his release.
