Parole Board Releases Moncton Offender With Residency Conditions

A man convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman in Moncton in 2010 has been released from prison under conditions set by the Parole Board of Canada. Romeo Cormier, now 78, received a sentence of 16 years and seven months in August 2011 after a jury convicted him on six charges.

The victim was abducted from a downtown mall on Feb. 26, 2010, held for 26 days in a rooming-house basement, and subjected to repeated sexual acts before escaping and contacting police.

Cormier was first granted statutory release in 2022 and moved to a halfway house, but the release was suspended within a month after reports of hostile and violent behavior toward female caseworkers. The latest board decision requires him to live in a community residential facility or psychiatric facility, return each evening, and demonstrate progress before any leave privileges are granted.

Because the release is statutory, the board cannot block it but can set conditions.

Additional conditions prohibit Cormier from using alcohol or drugs, associating with people involved in criminality or drug culture, visiting drinking establishments, or contacting his victim or her family. He must report any relationships with women to his parole supervisor and complete a treatment program.

The board cited a psychiatric assessment that noted impressions of antisocial personality disorder, a mood disorder, and narcissistic traits. It described Cormier as a high-risk offender with low reintegration potential and noted his history of breaching conditions.

The victim submitted impact statements as recently as December expressing fear that Cormier would seek revenge. Cormier remains registered as a sex offender for life and has stated he does not intend to seek employment due to his age.