James Cooper, Hamilton child sex offender, released

Convicted child sex offender James Cooper is out of federal jail, but no organizations will say where the Hamilton man is now.

The Parole Board of Canada’s most recent decision on Cooper's release — a May 21 "Post Release Decision Sheet" — shows Cooper was  to be granted statutory release with a long list of conditions on Sept. 17.

Cooper, 78, was sentenced in 1993 to 21 years in prison for a series of violent sexual assaults on six children, aged 7-14, in which he used weapons including a cattle prod and cat-o-nine tails.

Now he is out of jail.

Neither the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) nor Correctional Services Canada (CSC) would confirm Cooper is out, but his statutory release date does not appear to have been challenged by CSC, which could have asked for Cooper to be held in detention until his sentence ends on Jan. 5, 2015.

Statutory release is granted automatically to federal offenders who have served two-thirds of a fixed-length sentence.

Where Cooper is now is unclear.

Officials at the PBC and CSC are unable to say where Cooper is staying, though during two prior stints outside of jail Cooper opted to live in the Brantford, Ont., area.

As part of his conditions, Cooper must stay at a facility approved by CSC like a Community Correctional Centre, or halfway house, until Jan. 5, 2015. Cooper also has no overnight leave privileges, the PBC document states.

Cooper did not provide the PBC with any indication of where he plans to stay.

CBC Hamilton contacted local police forces throughout the area and the Ontario Provincial Police as well, but none issued warnings about Cooper. In some cases, police will warn about sex offenders being reintroduced into the community.

The contractors that run halfway houses in the region — like the St. Leonard’s Society — are not permitted to disclose information about their clients.

Cooper has many more conditions, including, but not limited to: making no contact with his victims or their family, not being in the presence of any children under the age of 18 unless accompanied by a responsibly adult who is aware of his history, and to not enter any bars.

He is also mandated to take his prescribed medication and remain on the psychiatric and psychological programs laid out for him.

Brantford release revoked

He was released into a Brantford, Ont. halfway house on Dec. 5, 2013, but was re-arrested a month later after displaying other "concerning behaviour," including making a call to a community centre to ask about seniors programs and when they may coincide with children’s activities, according to the PBC document. Cooper also reportedly asked community centre staff if there would be women chasing him around

Cooper denied making any inappropriate comments, or enquiring about children, but did tell the parole board he had been inquiring about lowering the dose of medication.

His lawyer, who is unnamed in the document, told the parole board his risk to the public has not increased.

Cooper’s case management team, however, worried he was "engaging in behaviour which strongly suggests a return to predatory behaviour, potentially against women and children," the document said.

He had also been released in 2012, before having his freedom revoked for behaving in a sexually inappropriate manner toward a woman.

Cooper’s victims will be informed of his release and his whereabouts.