New Brunswick·NewA former basketball coach in southeast New Brunswick who posted images online of players he filmed in washrooms and locker-rooms has been denied day parole.Shawn Nickerson of Riverview serving nine-year sentence Shane Magee · CBC News · Posted: Oct 23, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoShawn Nickerson of Riverview pleaded guilty to 32 charges and was sentenced in 2021 to nine years in prison. (Shawn Nickerson/Facebook)WARNING: This story contains descriptions that may be disturbing.A former basketball coach in southeast New Brunswick who posted images online of players he filmed in washrooms and locker-rooms has been denied day parole.Shawn Curtis Nickerson of Riverview was sentenced in April 2021 to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to 32 charges. The charges include possessing, accessing, publishing and distributing child pornography, sexual interference, and voyeurism.In its Sept. 26 decision, the Parole Board of Canada says it “remains cautious at best with respect to the assessment of risk.”The decision says a 2025 assessment found his risk of general or violent recidivism during day or full parole was low. It says Nickerson has made some progress and completed required programming. Risk of sexual offending above average“However, the risk of sexual offending remains assessed as above average,” the decision says.Nickerson’s statutory release date is April 9, 2027. That’s the point at which the law requires he be released from prison to serve the remainder of his term in the community. Offenders report to a parole officer and are required to follow conditions.When Nickerson was sentenced, the court heard he used three small cameras to record children between 12 and 16 in hotel bathrooms, gym locker-rooms and his own home when children visited.A publication ban prohibits reporting details that could identify victims.The investigation began in January 2020, when the RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Crime Centre was informed by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency that someone was posting child pornography on the dark web.The investigation involving multiple police forces led to Nickerson. A search of Nickerson’s home found electronic devices the sentencing judge was told had dozens of videos he made starting in 2016. He stopped in March 2020 because the pandemic led to many activities for schools and sports being halted. The sentencing hearing heard there were 21 identified victims in his recordings, while others weren’t identified. Nickerson also had what Crown prosecutors described as a collection of videos and images made by others.Nickerson admitted to police that people in the recordings were basketball players he coached. Evidence shown to the judge included messages Nickerson posted online seeking help using the spy cameras, posts that described his victims in detail, posts seeking advice on how to lure children and how to deal with parents. The parole decision says the board reviewed victim impact statements. Victims described anger, loss of trust“Of significance is the [breadth] of the damage your actions have had on individuals, sporting organizations and academic settings,” the decision says.“A loss of trust is at the heart of their experiences. An individual victim expressed anger and spoke of the effect on his education.”The decision says that during a 2024 parole hearing, Correctional Service Canada did not support granting parole. “You had hopes of residing with family, a decision that was not well thought out due to safety concerns and potential victim access,” the decision says.The September decision says Nickerson planned to relocate from his home area while outside prison. It says returning home “may never be feasible given the immediate and lingering damage inflicted.”ABOUT THE AUTHORShane Magee is a Moncton-based reporter for CBC News.
Day parole denied for ex-coach who filmed players, posted child pornography
