A former Prince George drug enforcer who received a lengthy sentence for his role in kidnapping, confining and torturing a man must serve his statutory release in a halfway house, the Parole Board of Canada has decided.
In the absence of the condition, Steve Marozoff, 39, would present an undue risk to reoffend, the board said in a decision reached May 5.
Marozoff was sentenced in April 2010 to a further seven years and 11 months in prison after he and two accomplices took a man hostage over a $2,500 drug debt two years previously.
The victim was taken to a 2200-block Victoria Street home where where he was kicked, punched, burned with a hot crack pipe, stripped and bound with packing tape, urinated on and then doused with laundry detergent that burned his eyes when allowed to take a shower.
On the second day, Marozoff, who was assigned to keep an eye on the victim, launched his own round of beatings that included sexually assaulting him, carving initials in his back with a utility blade and hitting him with a golf club.
The sentencing judge found Marozoff had put the victim through the second round of abuse for his "own pleasure and gratification."
The victim was let go to raise money to pay off the debt and went to police.
According to the parole board report, Marozoff had been "predominantly a problem" while in prison and, up to 2012, was segregrated on many occasions. He improved his behaviour and, in April 2013, was reclassified to minimum security.
But in September 2014 he threatened staff and was subsequently sent back to maximum security where he has remained without incident.
In all, Marozoff was issued a 12-year term less credit for four years time served prior to sentencing. By law, most offenders are entitled to statutory release after serving two-thirds of their sentences and is not a result of a parole board decision.
Marozoff was also ordered to refrain from consuming alcohol and drugs and from associating with criminals. He remains eligible for overnight leave privileges.
The community where Marozoff will stay was not provided in the decision.
