SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A man with a history of sexual assault convictions could be sent to jail indefinitely at his upcoming sentencing now that a crown prosecutor is asking the court to designate him a dangerous offender.

Bobby Kudlak, carrying a crime novel, leaves court on Dec. 2 after a court appearance. A Crown prosecutor is trying to have the 35-year-old designated as a dangerous offender. - Cameron Ginn/NNSL photo

Bobby Kudlak was accused of groping a young girl at the Yellowknife public library on June 16. He pleaded guilty to sexual assault on Oct. 21.

Crown prosecutor Janice Walsh made an application in territorial court on Dec. 1 for Kudlak to undergo a 60-day psychiatric assessment, the first step in designating him a dangerous offender.

Dangerous offenders can receive an indefinite penitentiary sentence.

"It's one of the most serious applications the prosecution can make against an accused person," said judge Robert Gorin of the proposed designation.

The Crown must convince the judge that the offender has shown a pattern of behaviour that is dangerous to the public and that the offender is a risk to re-offend.

The court will hear the application on Feb. 17 at 9:30 a.m.

Gorin asked Walsh to prepare a list of Kudlak's past offences and include the names of his various lawyers. Gorin, a former defence lawyer in the NWT, said he wanted to ensure he'd never represented the accused.

"His name rings a bell," said Gorin.

Originally from Cambridge Bay, Kudlak has a lengthy criminal record in the NWT and Nunavut, which includes 11 offences related to sexual assault, said Walsh.

The 35-year-old, who stands less than five feet tall, wore a faded green T-shirt in court and held a John Grisham novel as he was led away from courthouse with his legs shackled.

He's been in custody since his last arrest in June.

In November 2008, a judge sentenced Kudlak to 18 months in jail for sexually assaulting a young girl at Wal-Mart in Yellowknife the previous summer. Kudlak was given 10 months credit for time spent in jail awaiting his sentence and therefore only served eight more months before being released.

He was also banned from being in public parks, schools, playgrounds or anywhere children under the age of 16 could reasonably be expected to attend.

Kudlak was on probation when he was charged with inappropriately touching the young girl in the library.