Key Takeaways
- Scott William George, a 28-year-old registered sex offender, has been charged with assault, forcible confinement, and failing to comply with a prohibition involving children after an incident at a St. Vital elementary school.
- George has a history of substance abuse and a criminal record that includes convictions for sexual interference, breaking and entering, theft, and weapons-related offenses.
- He breached his conditions as a registered sex offender by wandering through a high school earlier this year and has shown little remorse or insight into his actions.
- George’s criminal record stretches back to 2015 and includes a conviction for groping a six-year-old girl at a movie theater in 2022.
- He has been sentenced to two years for sexual interference and has a one-year sentence for breaching his conditions as a registered sex offender.
Introduction to the Incident
A disturbing incident occurred at a St. Vital elementary school, where a child was grabbed in a bathroom by a 28-year-old man with a history of sex offenses. Scott William George has been charged with assault, forcible confinement, and two counts of failing to comply with a prohibition involving children. According to police, George entered the elementary school, hid in a bathroom, and grabbed a student after they came out of another stall. Fortunately, the child was able to escape and was not physically hurt.
George’s Criminal Record
Court records show that George has been a registered sex offender since he pleaded guilty to sexual interference in 2023. He was sentenced to two years for that crime, which involved sexually touching a person under 16 years old in July 2022. In that case, George walked up to a six-year-old girl at a movie theater, groped her, and then fled. Police arrested him less than half an hour after the incident, noting that his speech was slurred and that he smelled of an unknown solvent. George has a long history of substance abuse, which includes sniffing solvents and using meth, and has shown little remorse or insight into his actions.
Breaching Conditions as a Registered Sex Offender
As a registered sex offender, George was prohibited from having contact with children or being in spaces where they would typically be. However, he breached those conditions twice earlier this year. In February, George was found in a bathroom at St. Vital Park, and in March, he was found wandering through a high school, where he was openly drinking beer and sniffing an unknown substance. The high school is just blocks away from the elementary school where the recent incident occurred. The Crown prosecutor noted that George has an "unenviable criminal record," which stretches back to 2015 and includes convictions for breaking and entering, theft, forcible entry, mischief, and weapons-related offenses.
Substance Abuse and Lack of Remorse
George’s history of substance abuse has been a recurring theme throughout his criminal record. He has been using solvents and meth since he was 10 years old, and his addiction has contributed to his criminal behavior. In an interview following his arrest for groping the six-year-old girl, investigators noted that George had "little remorse or insight" into the seriousness of the incident. He was later found masturbating in a police station bathroom, which further demonstrates his lack of remorse and understanding of his actions. The judge in his case noted that George was "unengaged" throughout the hearing and had a "lack of willingness to seek treatment for anything."
Recent Charges and Sentencing
George was charged with theft under $5,000 on November 15, according to court records. He has also been sentenced to one year for breaching his conditions as a registered sex offender. The judge accepted a joint Crown-defence recommendation for the sentence, which will be served concurrently with his two-year sentence for sexual interference. George’s release date is estimated to be sometime in November, and he has asked to speak to his lawyer about his release date. The incident at the elementary school has raised concerns about the safety and well-being of children in the community, and George’s history of sex offenses and substance abuse has highlighted the need for more effective treatment and rehabilitation programs for offenders.
