Sask. RCMP says sex offender must breach conditions before arrest

Saskatchewan RCMP Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore has told The Evan Bray Show that high-risk sex offender Jared (Jarrod) Charles breaches the conditions of his release, he cannot be held in custody.

This week, Regina police announced that Charles was living in the Heritage neighbourhood in Regina after serving his entire sentence.

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Charles is a violent sex offender who triggered two Amber Alerts in the province several years ago. In one case, he abducted an eight-year-old girl from a playground in Prince Albert and sexually assaulted her.

Blackmore said that warnings about a prisoner’s release are sent out if they meet the right criteria.

“It’s concerning, and that’s what triggers a public interest disclosure. Those are at the highest level when we have the greatest concern for public safety, and it’s something that we can’t do without permission to do that. But in this case, our application was accepted because we do see those risks there,” she said.

In the disclosure, police indicated that Charles had shown little to no progress in his rehabilitation and indicated a strong chance to reoffend.

Blackmore acknowledged concerns many Regina residents have but said that until Charles breaches the conditions of his release, he cannot be arrested.

Charles’ court-ordered conditions are :

• He must live at an approved residence;
• He shall have no contact or communication with any person under the age of 16 years, unless done so under the supervision of an approved person;
• He shall not go to a public park, public swimming area, where persons under the age of 16 years may be present or can reasonably be expected to be present, or a school ground, playground, or daycare centre;
• He shall not use a computer system for the purpose of communication with a person who is under the age of 16 years;
• He shall not obtain or continue employment, or be a volunteer in a capacity that involves being in a position of trust or authority towards persons under the age of 16 years;
• He shall have no contact with any prior victims;
• He shall not possess or consume alcohol or drugs that have not been prescribed by a medical doctor;
• He shall not enter or be in any place of which the main purpose is to sell alcohol, such as bars or liquor stores; and
• He shall not possess any firearm, ammunition, or any other weapon.

“Until he breaches those conditions, there is no criminal code charge. We have to always remember that the standard, the burden of proof that we have to prove an allegation on, is beyond a reasonable doubt,” Blackmore said.

“So we have to meet the criteria under the charge in the Criminal Code, and just saying, ‘I’m not going to abide by that’ sometimes that certainly is an indicator that can cause someone to maybe not get their statutory release.

“But in this case, he was at the end of his sentence, and so that is not an option. And to be able to charge him with that criminal offence, we actually have to have that breach,” she said.

— with files from CJME News

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