How Could You? Hall of Shame-Canada- Greg Simard
This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.
From London, Ontario, developmental service worker Greg Simard, 24, employed by Child and Parent Resource Institute, pled guilty to attempted murder in the beating of a 12-year-old autistic boy on September 9, 2012.
“But a hearing must still be held to determine if Greg Simard is criminally responsible for the assault.
Simard pleaded guilty to a total of four charges. Some in the gallery sobbed while the facts of the case were read in court.
The boy, 12, was discovered in the woods outside the Child and Parent Resource Institute — where Simard worked — on Sept. 9, 2012.
The facility treats children with mental health and developmental issues.
After his arrest, Simard told police: “I did it for my country. He is a drain on society. His life is meaningless.”
Simard was working on a short-term contract as a developmental service worker.
The hearing to determine if Simard is criminally responsible will begin Friday afternoon.”
Social worker pleads guilty to trying to kill autistic boy
[Toronto Sun 5/3/13]
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“Days after a boy was severely beaten and an employee charged with attempted murder, details are emerging about the provincial facility that treats children with mental-health problems.
Information about the Child and Parent Resource Institute (CPRI) comes from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services that funds the facility in London, ON.
CPRI takes in children from birth to age 18 from 17 counties in Southwestern Ontario. It has six highly specialized residential treatment units for children with complex needs, including mental-health issues, behavioural disturbances and developmental challenges.
Each residential unit houses between eight and 10 children.
It was from one of these residential units that a 12-year-old boy was taken Sunday night.
Staff became concerned for his welfare and called police just before midnight. The boy was found in the woods behind the unit, suffering from “severe trauma” after a beating.
A developmental service worker on contract with CPRI, Greg Simard, 24, faces several charges, including attempted murder.
Although all staff with direct contact with clients must undergo a police check, there isn’t any psychological testing of staff, ministry officials said.
But, according to the ministry, the clinic has many security features.
The facility has an internal complaint and review procedure if a client or parents of a client have problems with a staff member.
There is at least one staff member in each residence during the night. Exterior doors to the residential units are locked at night. Children’s bedrooms are locked from the inside and staff have keys to the client doors.
Bedroom doors are alarmed, and staff carry portable communication devices. A senior officer in charge completes regular rounds in all the units, and there’s an emergency response code system in place.
Given the stringent security in the residential units, questions remain: How was a 12-year-old boy removed from the locked residential unit? How long did it take staff to figure out that the boy and a worker were missing?
A spokesperson for the ministry said it’s co-operating with the police investigation and will conduct its own probe.
The 12-year-old boy remains in critical condition in hospital.
Simard is charged with attempted murder, forcible confinement, uttering threats and assaulting a police officer.
He also faces a charge of committing an indecent act that isn’t related to the CPRI charges.
Simard is set to appear in court by video on Thursday.”
Clinic comes under fire after boy, 12, found badly beaten
[Sun News Network 9/12/12 by Kate Dubinski]
“Greg Simard, 24, made a brief appearance this week in London’s adult therapeutic court. He’s charged with attempted murder, forcible confinement and two other charges in the beating of a 12-year-old resident of the Child and Parent Resource Institute on Sept. 9.
The boy was found in a wooded area behind the facility with what police described as “severe trauma.”
Defence lawyer Jim Dean said Simard, led into court from cells in handcuffs, has been assessed by a psychiatrist and a report has been made available.
Simard’s hearing is set to determine if he is criminally responsible.
Ontario Court Justice Jeanine LeRoy agreed to set the hearing for Jan. 11. Simard remains in custody.
Children with mental health and developmental issues are treated at the facility in London’s west end.”
Hearing set for Jan. 11 in Greg Simard attempted murder case
[London Free Press 11/29/12]
“Greg Simard, 24, faces attempted murder, forcible confinement and two other charges for the injuries suffered by the boy Sept. 9 at the Child and Parent Resource Centre.
He was to have a hearing Friday to determine his mental fitness.
Ontario Court Justice Jeanine LeRoy agreed to set a new date for a hearing Jan. 18 after the victim’s parents were unable to attend court Friday.
Assistant Crown attorney Fraser Ball also said more factual and medical information is being sought.
The victim’s name is protected by court order.”
[London Free Press 1/11/13 by Jane Sims]
“Almost everyone was there — the judge, the Crown and the defence lawyer — to set the next phase of a sensitive case.
But not the accused — and the judge wants to know why.
On Tuesday morning, representatives from both the London police service and the Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre are to be in Ontario Court Justice Jeanine LeRoy’s court to explain how no one delivered Greg Simard, 24, to the courthouse Friday as scheduled.
LeRoy said it was “beyond me” why the police and the jail were at odds about who was responsible for transporting Simard.
“It’s unbelievable,” she said.
The police said it was up to the jail to pick up Simard at the Regional Mental Health Care St. Thomas hospital, where Simard is in custody. They told LeRoy that even if jail officials had moved him as far as the Exeter Rd. jail, police would have taken him to court.
The jail, LeRoy noted, believed London police should have transported Simard from the hospital.”
“Simard was sent to Regional Mental Health Care St. Thomas in January for an assessment to determine his mental state at the time of the boy’s injuries before setting a hearing date.
Both assistant Crown attorney Fraser Ball and defence lawyer Gordon Cudmore were expecting a copy of the assessment report would arrive at the courthouse with Simard Friday, after they were advised by the hospital they would not fax it to them because of confidentiality concerns.
“Both of us are eager to know the contents of the outstanding report,” Ball told the judge.
Without Simard, the case came to a standstill — and LeRoy wasn’t happy.
She expressed her “judicial disgust and dismay” at the situation and promised everyone, including members of Simard’s family who had waited all day for the case to be called, that “I will do my best to get to the bottom of this on Tuesday.”
London police, jail at odds over transport plans
[London Free Press 2/15/13 by Jane Sims]
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