Andrew John Downing has a history of not complying with release conditions, as previously reported by the Leader-Post.
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Andrew John Downing, a sex offender with a history of crimes against children, has been denied bail in relation to recent charges.
On Sept. 6, a news release from the Saskatoon Police Service indicated the Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit had brought a list of charges against the Regina man, who was 49 years old at the time.
They included: accessing child pornography, possessing child pornography, making available child pornography, and breaching a prohibition order.
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Downing has been held in custody and appeared before a judge in Regina provincial court on Wednesday, where a bail hearing was conducted.
In keeping with a publication ban common to such hearings, information cannot be published related to evidence given at the hearing, submissions made by lawyers, or the judge’s reasons for denying Downing bail.
The Leader-Post has previously published details about Downing’s past offences and parole history.
In 2019, he was handed a five-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to six charges, including sexual assault, sexual interference and possession of child pornography.
In that case, the abuse charges were related to incidents that took place between 2011 and 2015, and involved three boys between the ages of 12 and 17.
The abuse offences involved Downing touching two of the boys in a sexual manner and performing sex acts on one of the boys, in addition to taking photographs of him changing or working out.
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As previously published online by the Leader-Post on Sept. 13, 2024, parole documents indicate that Downing’s release history following his incarceration for those offences was not without issue.
The documents indicate Downing exhibited “deceitful” behaviours while on parole, and on more than one occasion he was found in breach of his conditions for having access to the internet while on statutory release.
Following one such instance, his statutory release was suspended.
The documents state that, when confronted about his breaches, Downing appeared to take responsibility.
However, the documents go on to note: “your parole officer believes this is a form of manipulation to get what you want, as you quickly return to your behaviour of not abiding by the special conditions.”
In late November of 2022, the Parole Board of Canada decided to release Downing again.
The decision stated: “the Board finds that your risk in the community did not elevate to an unmanageable level and that your return to the institution has served as a deterrent for further negative behaviours.”
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He completed his previous sentence on Jan. 19, 2023.
The charges he currently faces have not been proven in court.
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