By Brent Bosker

Kidnapper to be set free

Dec 30, 2010 | 5:27 AM

The man jailed for kidnapping a young girl near Shellbrook five years ago will soon be walking the streets again. Linden Bird’s statutory release date is Dec.31.

Bird pleaded guilty to the crime in 2006 and was sentenced to seven years in prison. He’s now served two-thirds of that sentence is eligible for supervised release.

“Statutory release is legislated, it’s mandated by law. Any offender who’s serving a definite sentence, meaning their sentence has an end date, by law is to be released after serving two-thirds of their sentence,” said Michelle Goring, regional communications officers with Parole Board of Canada.

The PBC has imposed two special conditions in addition to the mandatory ones.

In their decision, the board said Bird must abstain from using alcohol and illicit drugs, saying both have contributed to his criminal behavior and increase his risk of re-offending.

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Goring said the conditions are to protect the public, as well help the offender reintegrate back into society.

The PBC has the authority to revoke his release if any of his release conditions are broken.

Bird was on his way to visit family in Meadow Lake in early January 2006 when he took a wrong turn and ended up in a yard. It was there he walked into a nearby home and grabbed an 11 year old girl.

He drove the girl around, eventually dumping her off at the side of a road where she found help at a nearby home.

During court it was said Bird could not recall why he took the girl because of his drunken state. In addition to kidnapping, he also pleaded guilty to break-in-enter, overcome resistance and taking a motor vehicle without consent.

bbosker@panow.com