Appeal denied in New York for notorious sex offender who committed crimes in N.S.
CBC
A sex offender incarcerated for two decades in Canada and declared a dangerous offender, but later extradited to the U.S. to serve time for crimes previously committed in New York, has lost his appeal to have his conviction overturned.
William Shrubsall, 52, is serving time in Marcy, N.Y., for sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl and bail jumping. He was 24 at the time of the sexual assault.
While on trial in Niagara Falls, N.Y., in May 1996, he left a suicide note saying he was going to jump into Niagara Falls.
Within days, Shrubsall turned up in Nova Scotia. Before being arrested in June 1998, he committed a string of violent crimes and sex assaults.
Shrubsall was designated a dangerous offender in 2001 and given an indeterminate prison sentence.
A CBC News investigation revealed Canadian parole board members did not challenge factual misrepresentations made to them by Shrubsall in a 2018 parole hearing. Their controversial decision to parole him paved the way for his 2019 deportation to the U.S., sparking outrage.
In 2020, Shrubsall pleaded guilty to bail jumping and criminal contempt, but he appealed that, arguing in part that his constitutional right to a speedy trial was denied.
A court decision last month from the Supreme Court of the State of New York's appellate division, fourth judicial department, rejected Shrubsall's appeal.
"[T]he record establishes that the genesis of the extraordinary delay here was defendant's decision to absent himself from his ongoing sex offenses trial, leave a false suicide note, and abscond to Canada where, while using various aliases, he committed several violent physical and sexual attacks against women, thereby resulting in his convictions for various crimes, designation as a dangerous offender, and corresponding lengthy term of imprisonment in Canada," said the court decision.
As well, the decision notes that American authorities made "diligent, good faith efforts" to have Shrubsall extradited to stand trial for the bail jumping charge, but recognized there was a low likelihood Canada would do that.
Shrubsall also applied for parole recently, which was rejected.
The parole decision said "there is a reasonable probability that you would not live at liberty without again violating the law. Your release at this time would be incompatible with the welfare of society."
Shrubsall's next parole hearing will be in October 2024.
It's unclear how long Shrubsall will remain incarcerated. The combined duration of his sentences range from about four to 13 years, and he's been serving time in the U.S. since January 2019.
A new Alberta government pilot project is hoping to address a common challenge facing citizens accessing health care in a city that straddles two provinces.
The Victoria Police Department will have officers patrolling on foot for the first time since 2022, thanks to new funding from the city.
ArcelorMittal Dofasco has quietly extended its timeline by 22 years to phase out coal for "decarbonized" steelmaking, says a federal government document, aiming for 2050 instead of 2028.
In a week where President Donald Trump says the U.S. doesn’t need cars made in Canada, the Dodge Charger Sixpack — made in Windsor, Ont. — is in the running to win car of the year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this morning.
An Ontario man has reached a settlement agreement with Boeing almost seven years after six of his family members died in a plane crash.
Severe weather has lead to several highway closures across northern Ontario Wednesday morning.
Several Durham police officers diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) say they believe the service isolated them from the day they went on mental health leave and has not provided them any meaningful support.
The City of Toronto’s 2026 budget offers relief many homeowners were looking for in its property tax increase, but it also lays bare the massive amount of infrastructure work hanging over the city in the coming years which, in some cases, may be deferred.
The University of Guelph says it is offering assistance to help students stranded in Iran after a petition was started asking for more to be done by the school.
There may be some relief in sight this flu season — though it may not feel like it right now.
Students will be back in class on Wednesday morning at Robert Service School in Dawson City.
The Canadian Armed Forces would need to buy 72 Gripen fighter jets and six GlobalEye surveillance aircraft for Swedish manufacturer Saab to deliver on its pledge of creating 12,600 jobs in Canada, CBC News has learned.
When news broke of U.S. forces attacking and seizing Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro earlier this month, Barry Blacklock’s phone began buzzing.