Convicted child sex offender released from Headingley jail, considered high risk to reoffend

A convicted child sex offender who was previously sentenced to more than two years in prison for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy has been released from a Winnipeg-area correctional facility and is expected to live in the city, police warned.

James Sheldon Jasper, 49, was released from Headingley jail on Saturday, after serving a sentence for breaching a probation order by possessing a cellphone, police said.

Despite participating in sexual offender treatment in the past, he is still considered a high risk to reoffend against all children, particularly boys, according to a public notice from the Manitoba Integrated High Risk Sex Offender Unit — a joint force between Winnipeg police and RCMP officials.

Jasper has been convicted of numerous sexual offences against children, and some of his victims were "groomed," police said.

In 2002, he was convicted for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy whom he invited into his car and drove to a secluded spot before assaulting him. He was sentenced to more than two years in jail and a 10-year long-term supervision order.

After his release in 2006, Jasper was convicted twice for breaching the terms of his supervision order. After his supervision order ended, he was convicted multiple times for breaching the terms of his probation order, Saturday's notice said.

Jasper, who is expected to live in Winnipeg following his release, will be under numerous court-ordered conditions and subject to supervised probation and weapons prohibition orders, police said.

He is not allowed to go to public parks, swimming pools, daycare centres, school grounds, playgrounds or community centres, or any public area where people under the age of 18 may be present, the notice said.

He can't have contact with anyone under the age of 18, unless he is supervised by a person approved by the court.

He is also not allowed to have weapons, a cellphone or any electronic device that can access the internet, among other restrictions.

Police said the information in the notice is intended to allow members of the public to take suitable measures to protect themselves, but warned any form of vigilante activity against Jasper will not be tolerated.

Anyone with information for police about Jasper can call the Manitoba Integrated High Risk Sex Offender Unit at (431) 489-8056, Winnipeg police at (204) 986-6222 or a local RCMP detachment.

Anonymous tips can be sent to Manitoba Crime Stoppers at (204) 786-8477 or toll free at 1-800-222-8477.