HAY RIVER - A Hay River man banded together with women from Whitehorse and Montreal to track down a known sex offender suspected of similar crimes in his community.

Their detective work led to the arrest of John Murray "Fester" Melanson, 43, by Toronto police on Feb. 22.

John Murray Melanson, nicknamed Fester, shown in a police photo.

Melanson, originally from New Brunswick, was arrested under a warrant out of Hay River and faces charges of possession of child pornography, sexual assaults involving two young boys under the age of 14, sexual interference and breach of probation.

Melanson - whom Toronto police call a "high-risk" sexual offender - has an extensive criminal record, including convictions for sexual assault, invitation to sexual touching, possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography.

Randy Whitton kick-started the search for Melanson, enlisting the help of Karen Johnson, from Whitehorse, and a Montreal woman after Melanson suddenly left town.

Whitton, who considered Melanson a friend but has since revised that opinion, became suspicious when rumours of child pornography being found on Melanson's computer began to circulate.

Using the Internet, Whitton searched for information on Melanson and eventually was able to contact a victim's relative, who lives in Montreal, and Johnson.

Johnson, co-owner of La Gourmandise, became suspicious of Melanson when he applied for a job at her restaurant in January.

"Something wasn't right with me," she said.

Her bad feeling led her to also check the Internet for information on Melanson.

"I was astounded by what I found," said Johnson.

Whitton, the woman in Montreal and Johnson agreed that Johnson would e-mail Melanson to obtain information on his whereabouts. The e-mail stated she wanted the information to contact him in the future about recipes.

Through the ruse they determined he was in Toronto and they obtained a telephone number, and passed the information to police.

"That's how they located him," Johnson said.

Toronto police also executed a search warrant at Melanson's city residence where they seized a computer.

Whitton said much of what Melanson told him about his past was fabricated - including that he served in the army and that he once had a wife and two children killed by a drunk driver.

"Pretty much everything he told was a lie," Whitton said. After learning of Melanson's past crimes, Whitton said he is leery of people he meets socially around town. "Since then, if I meet somebody new, I go on the Internet to check them out," he said.

The people of Hay River, even police, were unaware of Melanson's criminal history while he lived there from July of last year to mid-January.

In his brief time in the community he became well known, made friends and even volunteered.

Melanson, a chef, volunteered three times in a home economics class at Diamond Jenness Secondary school.

Principal Greg Storey said Melanson was supervised by a teacher and never had unfettered access to students.

Still, Storey admitted to a "sinking feeling in my stomach" when he later learned of Melanson's background.

"It was very shocking and very upsetting," he said.

As a result, all Hay River schools have changed their policy on volunteers. All now have to undergo criminal record checks, whereas previously only those working one-on-one with a student or leading a class required such checks.

Melanson even played Santa Claus at a Christmas party for children at NWT Centennial Library.

Mayor John Pollard is dismayed Melanson could move to town without anyone being aware of his past.

"I would have to say it's of great concern," he said.

Pollard said the town would raise the matter with the territorial minister of justice to see what can be done to prevent something similar from happening in the future.

Cpl. Jim Forsey of the Hay River RCMP said Melanson is listed on the National Sex Offender Registry and is supposed to notify police when he leaves a town and arrives in a new community. "He had an obligation to tell us," Forsey said.

Since he allegedly didn't, Melanson is facing a charge of breach of probation.

There was a warrant issued for Melanson in Manitoba when he left the province - where he had just finished serving jail time for a sex crime - without notifying RCMP.

Forsey said there was no reason for Hay River RCMP to suspect Melanson of anything.

Forsey said that unless Melanson was pulled over for a traffic offence or came into contact with the RCMP for another matter, there would have been no cause to run a check for outstanding warrants.

Forsey advises employers to know who they are hiring. "Part of employment should be a criminal records check."

Const. Brad Cooper of the sex crimes unit with the Toronto Police Service said Melanson is facing a breach of probation charge in Toronto, noting he is on overlapping probations.

Cooper said Melanson has lived in numerous provinces, including B.C., Manitoba, Quebec and Ontario, and has also spent an unknown period of time in the U.S.

Toronto police are trying to determine if there are any other victims. "He has the art of persuasion and can take advantage of people very easily," Cooper said.