Following his conviction for trying to lure teenage boys for sex acts, Chris Beaton wanted his restrictive conditions reduced. (BC Housing)

By Ian Holmes

application dropped

Nanaimo sex offender abandons bid for eased court-ordered restrictions

Nov 21, 2022 | 5:46 PM

NANAIMO — Facing opposition to have recently applied court orders against him eased, a well known convicted sex offender has dropped his application to vary his sentence.

Christopher Robin Beaton briefly appeared in provincial court in Nanaimo on Monday, Nov. 21 to apply to the court to grant him access to a local daycare in order for him to assist family members.

Beaton, formerly in charge of an influential Nanaimo-based First Nations focused social services provider, was sentenced in July for a pair of child-luring charges and ordered to follow stringent restrictive conditions for five years.

The Crown’s Nick Barber said in addition to his opposition to having Beaton’s sentence varied, he said the owner of the daycare Beaton requested access to wasn’t on board either.

“We would have been opposed in any event but they are also opposed and concerned about this application,” Barber told court.

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Judge Brian Harvey informed the self-represented Beaton he wouldn’t hear the application, preferring a different judge who resided over his summer sentencing hearing to hear his argument.

Beaton, who attended court virtually, instead pulled the pin on his application.

“Without Crown’s support I think I’m really wasting the court’s time and I don’t want to do that,” Beaton said, who told court his application was suggested by his probation officer.

No other details of Beaton’s proposed application were provided.

On July 18, Beaton was issued a suspended sentence, two years probation and five years of restrictive conditions tailored for sex offenders after pleading guilty to a pair of child-luring charges.

The disgraced Beaton propositioned two boys, aged 16 and 17, for sexual encounters during online text conversations.

Both victims were clients of the Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre, which re-branded to Island Urban Indigenous Wellness Society immediately after Beaton was sentenced.

During disturbing chats initiated by Beaton, he proposed rewards if the boys engaged in sex acts with him.

The crimes were committed in December 2018 and February 2020, while no clear rationale for his behaviour was provided.

A forensic report referenced during Beaton’s sentencing hearing listed him at a mid-level threat to re-offend with sex related crimes.

The charges against Beaton were approved by the BC Prosecution Service in July 2021.

His sentence included a two year probationary term, which mirrors many of the orders listed in his five-years of restrictive conditions.

Beaton is listed on the National Sex Offender Registry for life.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes