Police are warning that a child sex offender likely to reoffend is fresh out of prison and moving to Regina.
Saskatchewan RCMP and Regina Police Service issued a press release "in the interest of public safety...to say Jared Charles was had a "high risk of reoffending sexually and/or violently...after having served the entirety of his sentence."
Jared Charles has a criminal history which includes violent sexual offences and kidnapping involving children, but was released from prison on March 18. He is a 27-year-old male and is described as approximately 6-ft. and 183 lbs. He has black hair and brown eyes and sometimes uses the spelling ‘Jarrod’ for his first name.
In 2018, Charles was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison after taking an eight-year-old Prince Albert girl from a playground and sexually assaulting her in the summer of 2017. The kidnapping triggered an Amber Alert. Police took Charles into custody less than two hours later.
In 2016, Charles was charged with two counts of abduction and two breaches of undertaking, which were later stayed. He was accused of taking two boys from the La Ronge area, aged eight and 10, who left with him to play video games and eat junk food. That incident also triggered an Amber Alert.
Police used bold face to emphasize in their press release that the information was meant to "enable the public to take suitable preventative measures," not to prompt "vigiliantism or other unreasonable conduct directed at this individual."
During Charles’ time of incarceration, he completed programming to address risk factors. However, investigators have concluded the programming is not sufficient to adequately address the risk factors that cause Charles to reoffend sexually.
Charles has indicated that he is unable or unwilling to abide by conditions and that he is at a high risk to reoffend sexually. However, he is free regardless. At a press conference on March 19, RPS deputy chief Lorilee Davies said, "It's unfortunately the system that we live in."
Davies also mentioned that RPS patrol officers are aware of where Charles resides.
"Several times a week, partners with probation and Regina Police Service will be checking in to ensure that things are on track," Davies said.
Charles was released six days after 42-year-old Louis Ted Mercredi left prison for violent sexual offenses to live in Regina's Heritage neighbourhood.
“We really have to balance the rights of an individual who has served their time and is now back in the community, versus the risk to the public,” said Davies. “It is a tricky balance.”
To mitigate the risk to public safety and "contribute to Jared Charles’s rehabilitation," he is currently subject to a court order that requires him to live at an approved residence.
Charles is also ordered to have no unsupervised contact or communication with anyone under the age of 16 years; not go to a public park or swimming area where persons under the age of 16 years might be, or a school ground, playground, or daycare centre; not use a computer system to talk to someone under the age of 16 years; shall not work or volunteer in a capacity that involves being in a position of trust or authority towards persons under the age of 16 years; have no contact with any prior victims; not possess or consume alcohol or non-prescribed drugs; not be in bars or liquor stores; and not possess any firearm, ammunition, or any other weapon.
People who are released early have more conditions imposed on them, but there were less for Charles because he served his full sentence.
"This information is not to be used to carry out unlawful and harmful acts against this person," the police emphasized.
However, if anyone discovers Jared Charles to be in violation of his conditions, they are asked to call their local police agency or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (1-800-222-8477).
To report an emergency, call 911.
