A group of protesters rallied in Mission, B.C. on Wednesday after learning a sex offender has been relocated to their city.

About 50 people gathered at city hall, chanting and holding signs expressing their frustration with B.C. Corrections.

On Sunday, the agency issued a public notification informing residents of Mission that a high-risk offender was being relocated to the area approximately 75 kilometres southeast of Vancouver.

James Conway was moved after the owners of his previous halfway house in Abbotsford chose not to renew the lease. The home in Abbotsford was vandalized at least 15 times by vigilantes while Conway was living there, police said.

The 41-year-old – whose crimes include sexual interference with a minor, sexual assault and arson – moved into another residence in Mission over the weekend.

Protesters said they are bothered that no one in the community was warned of the move, and have vowed to find out exactly where he is living. They plan to rally outside his home when they find his address.

While in Mission, Conway will be under 24-hour house arrest, and may not leave without supervision. He is also being monitored electronically.

Other court-ordered conditions Conway faces include:

  • He may not engage in any activity that involves contact with persons under the age of 18, including online communication.
  • He may not engage in any activities, volunteer work or employment that will put him in contact with any person under the age of 18.
  • He may not attend any public park, playground, school yard, daycare centre, community centre or public swimming area or any other site which offers activities for persons under the age of 18.
  • He may not wear, for any reason, any uniform which includes but is not limited to, Firemen’s uniforms, Correctional Officer uniforms, Search and Rescue uniforms, Police uniforms, Security Guard uniforms, Nurse uniforms, or any patch or insignia that represents these occupations.
  • He may not travel alone on public transit.
  • He may not consume alcohol or be in an establishment where alcohol is for sale.
  • He may not possess any weapons.

If anyone witnesses Conway violating his conditions, they are asked to call local police immediately.

With a report from CTV Vancouver's Scott Hurst