High-risk sex offender released

A 25-year-old sex offender who has a list of violent convictions dating back to 2005was released from Headingley Correctional Centre Wednesday.

While Kevin Scott Steppan participated in sex offender treatment while in jail, he is still considered a high risk to re-offend, and woman are at risk of sexual violence, police said in a public statement regarding his imminent return to public life.

Steppan is expected to live in Winnipeg, and police said allfemales are at risk of sexual violence.

He will be monitored by officers in the Manitoba High-Risk Sex Offenders Unit, police said.

Dangerous offender bid denied

Steppanhas been in custody since August 12, 2005 when he was arrested for the sexual assault with a weapon of an 18-year-old sex-trade worker. He was arrested again six days later for assault causing bodily harm involving another sex-trade worker.

Earlier this year,a provincial court judgedenied a bid by the Crown to have Steppan declared a dangerous offender, meaning he could be held in jail indefinitely.

The judge said ina writtendecision in Februarythatwhile Steppanmeets all the criteria to be deemed a dangerous offender, he deserved another shot at rehabilitation.

"In my view, Steppan has potential and his risk can be controlled in the community if he is provided with the stability, supports and treatment he needs," Judge Linda Giesbrecht stated.

"When I consider all of the evidence in this case and the unique and comprehensive intensive community supervision and risk management plan that is available for Steppan, I am satisfied that there is a reasonable possibility of eventual control of his risk in the community."

Instead of the dangerous offender designation, Giesbrechtruled Steppanshould be monitored in the community under a 10-year long-termsupervision order.

Giesbrecht urged the National Parole Board to impose a number of strict conditions on Steppan's public life, including living in a supervised treatment facility, obeying a strict curfew and notifying his parole officer of any romantic relationships he becomes involved in.

She also wanted the parole board to prevent him from having contact with sex-trade workers and avoid the Ellice Avenue area in Winnipeg where his most recent victims were from.

While in custody, Steppan admitted to having problems with sexual addiction and anger, citing fantasies of havingsexual intercourse in dark places and a fetish for choking.

Mother terrified

A Winnipeg woman who met Steppan several years ago while they were both living at the Salvation Army shelter told CBC News that she's terrified Steppan willtarget her and her son.

Amanda Westervelt, 26, said she's frightened over Steppan's release, as he knows her son's name.

She said since they met,he's written her emails and letters and left her voicemail messages, in spite of her request to be left alone.

Westervelt tried to get a protection order but her application was refused by a magistrate. On Wednesday, Westervelt said a representative with Manitoba Justice contacted her and urged her to reapply.

She admitted being angry that her first attempt was spurned.

"The judge didn't listen to me and I was really shocked the way she didn't listen to me," said Westervelt. "That judge should have looked at my case even more clearly. She should have heard me out because we're not dealing with me; we're dealing with my son. And I want to protect my son."

Now Westervelt is worried about her own safety.

"I got a fantasy psycho on my hands," she said. "What do I do?"

Westervelt said she's locking herself inside her house, and family members and her boyfriend have promised to protect her.