Yellowknife (Aug 25/06) - A twice-convicted pedophile has been told to stay away from a family shelter after angry parents learned the man was volunteering his time there.

Disgraced lawyer Charles McGee was convicted of molesting two girls in the mid-1970s and another girl in the early 1980s.

McGee, awaiting sentencing Oct. 24 for his second conviction, was offering free legal advice for people attending the Centre for Northern Families.

He began the service four months ago to comply with conditions imposed under the first sentence he received for child molestation in 2004. It required him to provide volunteer time to the community, which he sought to fulfil at the family centre.

Now that a day care for children ages one to five is opening at the centre in September, McGee cannot enter the centre at any time children are present, said executive director Arlene Hache.

The decision came after parents planning to enrol their children at the day care complained.

"I can't believe they're not telling anyone," said Jenny Vornbrock, who has a three-year-old daughter named Alyssa.

Vornbrock said she was originally excited to have found a spot for her daughter in the centre's day care, but changed after talking to colleagues at the legal aid office where she works.

When informed by co-workers that McGee was volunteering at the centre, Vornbrock said she was disgusted.

"It's unacceptable," she said.

She told another parent planning to enrol her own child at the centre and both called to ask for an explanation, she said.

Vornbrock said she was told last week that the centre decided to forbid McGee from entering the building while children are present between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Vornbrock said she plans to meet with Hache and decide whether or not she will still enrol her daughter at the centre's day care.

Hache said McGee has only been on the property three times for about an hour each time since he started volunteering there.

Hache said McGee was under supervision the entire time.

"I'm conscious that parents are concerned," she said.

"I would not let anybody convicted of molesting children be around children."

Usually, McGee works via e-mail, or Hache will go with those needing his advice on court matters to his home where he is serving the last few months of his 2004 conditional sentence.

"He informs our adult clients about their rights and responsibilities," said Hache.

She refused to demonize McGee or let his legal knowledge go to waste when there are so many people who need it, she said.

"He's somebody's father, husband, or brother," she said.

McGee will continue to offer legal advice at the centre, said Hache.

The day care is set to open Sept. 5 and still has spots available, said day care co-ordinator Jennifer Burkell.

Vornbrock said she would prefer if McGee was no longer able to volunteer at the centre under any capacity.