Release of sex offender with lengthy history prompts Edmonton police to issue public warning

Article content A convicted sex offender with more than three decades of criminal history is being released from custody prompting police to issue a warning to the public. The man, who has been convicted of child pornography and indecent acts, is expected to reside in Edmonton upon his release from prison. Police have reason to believe he will commit another sexual offence against someone while in the community, said the Edmonton Police Service in a Tuesday news release.

The criminal rap sheet for Byron Douglas Harpold, 60, dates back as far as 1992 when he was sentenced for masturbating while exposing himself to women in a mall. He committed similar acts in 1999 and 2000. In 2003, while living in Rocky Mountain House, he was charged with possession of child pornography after police found approximately 2,000 child porn images.



In 2006, he was caught masturbating in a public area in Hinton and was charged with committing an indecent act, possession of child porn and breaching a court order. In 2008, he was sentenced to 43 months in jail for breaching his conditions after previously pleading guilty to two counts of possessing child porn and two counts of breaching conditions. At the time, Harpold was also banned for life from going to playgrounds, swimming pools, schools, day cares, parks, or any place where there are children under 14.

In 2018, while living in Saskatchewan, he landed back in jail for breaching conditions by using a computer and using a cellphone. Harpold agreed to enter into an 18-month peace bond that would place him on conditions upon his release. In 2021, Harpold was found guilty of committing an indecent act and three breaches of court orders after police caught him masturbating in a rental vehicle in the Northgate Mall in Regina in 2020.

Harpold will be required to wear an ankle monitor when released and has been placed on a series of conditions. He can’t be within 100 metres of a public park, swimming area, daycare, school ground, playground, rec centre, community shelter, youth shelter, public library, or any other area where a person under the age of 16 is present. Harpold must live at a residence approved by his supervisor and can’t change his address until it is approved by a supervisor.

His curfew is set between 10 p.m. and 6 a.

m. and he can’t travel outside of Edmonton unless he gets written approval from his supervisor. Harpold can’t possess or consume alcohol or drugs.

If anyone comes in contact with Harpold and sees him breach any of these conditions, contact EPS at 780-423-4567. – With files from Postmedia Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add EdmontonJournal.com and EdmontonSun.

com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters . You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post, and 13 other Canadian news sites.

The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.