West Kelowna senior charged with voyeurism

CONTENT ADVISORY

A West Kelowna senior jailed two decades ago for repeatedly sexually assaulting a girl he was babysitting has been charged with voyeurism.

West Kelowna resident Francis James Alexander is scheduled to appear at the Kelowna courthouse later this week, having been charged last month with a single count of secretly observing and recording nudity in a private place.

Details of how the voyeurism took place aren’t yet known but Alexander, who goes by the first name Frank, has done jail time for sexual abuse.

In 2008, when he was 48-years-old, Alexander was sentenced to three years in jail for sexually assaulting a child he was trusted to babysit.

According to a 2010 Parole Board of Canada decision, Alexander sexually assaulted the prepubescent girl over a period of five years while babysitting her and her siblings.

“You would send her siblings outside and then sexually assault the victim,” the Parole Board decision reads.

The girl did tell her parents, but didn’t want to go to court, so the offences were not reported to the police for several years.

The decision says Alexander admitted to fondling the child, but denied raping her.

“You state that the sexual activity occurred when you were drinking and feeling frustrated after arguing with your partner,” the decision reads.

The Parole Board notes that Alexander denied or minimized the offences, and there may have been more victims.

“File information indicates that your common law wife has alleged that you acted in a sexually inappropriate way with one of her children in the past. You deny the allegation. File information also indicates that you may have offended against another teenage girl, but you deny the allegation,” the decision reads.

Following Alexander’s 2008 conviction, he spent two years in jail before being released into a residential correctional facility. He was also placed on the sex offenders registry for 20 years.

As part of his release, he was ordered to attend psychological counselling sessions to deal with his substance abuse and sexual offending.

A 2008 report found him to be a low-functioning sex offender who posed a moderate risk of re-offending.

“The psychologist noted that marital conflict, substance abuse and victim access would be triggers that would increase your risk to re-offend sexually, and the likely victim would be any female who is in a dependent or submissive role with you,” the report states.

Alexander has a criminal record dating back to 1978, which includes several drunk driving convictions, break and enter, and assault.

The current voyeurism charge has not been proven in court.

NOTE TO READERS: To connect with a victim service program or violence against women program call VictimLink BC at 1-800-563-0808. VictimLink BC provides information and referrals to all victims, as well as immediate crisis response to victims of sexual and family violence.