Yellowknife RCMP issue warning about sex offender

Yellowknife RCMP have issued awarning about a violent sex offender who has returned to the city, who they say "poses a risk of significant harmto the public."

Travis Casaway, 27, hasconvictions for sexual assault and sexual assault with a weapon.

Casawaywas 15 when he grabbed two girls, aged 11 and 12,off the Frame Lake Trail and sexually assaulted them in separate incidents just nine days apart.

He was sentenced as an adult, to five years in prison. He was released in 2009 and then spent five years under court-ordered supervision in Edmonton.

In a separate release, the RCMP stated that the decision to release such information is based on a review of all reports associated with the individual. In this case, a committee was formed to review the reports and determine if there was a requirement for a public interest disclosure that outweighedthe right to privacy of the individual.

RCMP say the committee made thedecision to release the informationso the public can take appropriate steps to ensure personal safety.

The RCMP disclosure follows a warning issued by the Yellowknife Catholic school board on Tuesday about an unnamed sexual offender.

Claudia Parker, superintendent for the board, says the board heard about the sexual offender's return from a parentwhose child was assaulted by the offender.

Parker says in the classroom,teachers are going over safety with their students.

Casawayis described as an aboriginal male, 180cm tall, with brown eyes and black hair.