Yukon sex offender is back in court - Action News
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Yukon sex offender is back in court

A Yukon sex offender is back in court. Billy Dean Callahan-Smith is facing six criminal charges including sexual assault.

Billy Dean Callahan-Smith was found guilty in 2015 of luring underage girls.

The photo shows a young man next to flowers.
Billy Dean Callahan-Smith was released on probation in Whitehorse in 2016. At a hearing in Yukon Territorial Court, Judge Donald S. Luther called him a "troubled young man who needs considerable treatment, beyond what's offered by programs currently in this territory." (Philippe Morin/CBC)

A Yukon sex offender previously convicted forusing Facebook to contact two pre-teen girls and trying to arrange meetings for sex is back in court, facing a new set of criminal charges including sexual assault related to the abuse of an underage person.

Billy Dean Callahan-Smith is charged with a count each of sexual interference, sexual assault, and administering a noxious substance cocaine. All of which allegedly occurred on Aug.8, 2023. He's also facing charges forstealingand committing mischiefon a property on Oct.17 of that same year.

Court documents state that the alleged crimeshappened during the summer of 2023 when the victim was under the age of 16.Callahan-Smith allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted the victim.

The victim's name is under a publication ban.

The charges come after Yukon territorial court JudgeDonald S. Luther, crown prosecutor Leo Lane, and Callahan-Smith's former defence lawyerDavid Tarnowall expressed concerns over significant risks of re-offending after Callahan-Smith's2015 conviction.

At the time, lawyers urgedthe Yukon government to send Callahan-Smith to a renowned rehabilitationprogram for sex offenders in Alberta, but the government refused to pay. Instead, hewas released on two years' probation to live with his parents.

Callahan-Smith'sprobation forbidshim from contacting any children and attending places where children gather, such as pools and public parks.

On Friday, Callahan-Smith made a brief court appearance by video while incustody. Hisinitial bail hearing was adjourned after defence lawyer Mark Chandler told the judge that Callahan-Smith's family needs more time to work on a plan for his release.

Callahan-Smith will be back in court on Feb. 22.

Clarifications

  • This story has been updated to clarify that David Tarnow was Callahan-Smith's former lawyer.
    Feb 19, 2024 10:10 AM CT