SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A man recently released from prison and subject of a rare police warning to the public has been arrested for breaching conditions of his release.

Jonah Keyuajuk, called a "violent sex offender" by police, was arrested and charged with breaching court orders less than 24 hours after his release from prison. - photo courtesy of RCMP

Jonah Keyuajuk, 44, is facing three charges of breaching court orders following his arrest downtown early Friday morning, less than 24 hours after being released. It's alleged he violated a curfew, drank alcohol and did not keep the peace.

In court Monday, he consented to remaining in custody but reserved his right to a future bail hearing, according to defence lawyer Tu Pham, who represented Keyuajuk.

"I am concerned - you've got a situation where somebody has been told they're going to be released from custody on a certain date for the last couple years and this person has been counting down the days he's got in custody," Pham said. "When the day finally comes he expects to be released but he's thrown back in jail despite having committed no crime. Psychologically I can only imagine how demoralizing that would feel."

RCMP took the extraordinary step to warn the public about his release last week, stating he "poses a risk of significant harm to the public." Police, along with a committee of other government agencies and departments, weighed his right to privacy against the potential risk to the public before sending the warning.

The committee reviews documents related to Keyuajuk's imprisonment from RCMP, Corrections Service Canada, Public Prosecution Service of Canada and the territorial Department of Justice.

"As you can imagine, the release of this type of information has a significant impact on the person who is being released," said RCMP Const. Elenore Sturko. "So we have a duty to ensure it's justified. In this case, after all the available information related to this individual, it was decided that it would be in the public interest to make this type of disclosure."

It's in contrast to what happened last year when registered sex offender Travis Casaway returned to the city. A warning was issued by city schools at the time but not police. When Yellowknifer sought information from RCMP, police initially refused to confirm his name, citing "privacy reasons."

However, before publication of the story, RCMP issued a media release with a photo, similar to what happened with Keyuajuk.

Asked about the difference, Sturko said "we're definitely working hard to ensure that we are working toward our ultimate goal, which is public safety."

A recent Parole Board of Canada report about Keyuajuk provides clues about what aspects could have been considered by the committee, although Sturko could not confirm the report was used.

The document states Keyuajuk was serving two years and seven days in an unnamed prison for assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm and assault - use of force. The crimes were committed five months after a previous stint in prison, the records indicate, though it doesn't say where the crimes happened. The last records in Yellowknife's court registry are from 2007.

The parole board decides whether an inmate should be granted release prior to the end of their sentence.

"You remain an untreated offender who has been assessed as a high risk for recidivism, both generally and violently," the board concludes in its Aug. 27, 2014 decision. It was believed that if he was released prior to serving his full sentence, he would "likely to commit an offence causing death or serious harm to another person."

The decision states Keyuajuk denied committing crimes and said he was wrongfully convicted, despite pleading guilty in court.

In an interview with a psychologist he denied that he required treatment for sexual offences, that he has an anger problem and he minimized his offences against women.

The board denied early release and he was held as long as legally possible. Once someone has served their full sentence, they must be released even if considered a risk to reoffend.

Caroline Wawzonek, chair of the criminal law section of the local chapter of the Canadian Bar Association, said she understands the concerns people express when such warnings are issued.

"It's fair that people are concerned," she said. "But people want to keep in mind that he was arrested, charged, convicted and punished."

The criminal justice system in Canada emphasizes the idea that someone punished for a crime will be rehabilitated for a return to society.

"The idea in Canada is that you just don't lock someone up and throw away the key," she said.

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