A high-risk offender with a history of sex crimes involving children who was released to the St. John community last February on a public alert from police is said to have violated a number of conditions and is expected to face more sex charges, according to a commission decision for parole.
Harvey Joseph Venus, who is in his mid-30s, is back in custody after the Parole Board of Canada suspended his long-term supervision order.
He is charged with “repeat sex offender”, contact with children under 18 and failure to report a relationship.
He poses a “substantial risk” to the community, the decision issued this week said.
The board cited a number of reasons for taking Venus’ behavior seriously. These included his sex offense record, a psychological evaluation that indicated he was an above-average risk of reoffending, and his “pedophilic disorder, deviant sexual preferences and indifference to harm caused to [his] victims.”
Venus was released from a community correctional center in St. John after serving a four-year sentence in Dorchester prison for sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 16 in Nova Scotia.
He inappropriately touched the victim and photographed her, reportedly using an alias because of his history of sex crimes, according to parole documents.
He was under supervision for 8 years
When he was released, Venus was still under an eight-year long-term supervision order, which the judge added to the end of his sentence, also known as the order’s expiration date.
The St. John’s Police Force took the unusual step of issuing a public safety alert at the time, saying information indicated he posed a “risk of significant harm to children under the age of 16.”
“The St. John police [Force] is issuing this public notice after careful consideration of all relevant factors, including individual privacy concerns and public safety concerns, in the belief that it is clearly in the public interest to inform members of the community of Harvey Venus’ release,” the council said.
The warning was intended to “allow members of the public to take appropriate precautions,” police said.
St. John’s police issued a public safety alert in February, saying Venus posed a “significant risk” to children under 16. (Submitted by St. John’s Police)
Venus was under a number of special conditions imposed by the parole board, “regarding negative associates, reporting relationships, contact with victims, contact with children, children’s areas, pornography, alcohol, drugs, treatment plans, as well as telecommunications and internet restrictions,” according to the parole document.
Shortly after he was released, however, someone called the community correctional center to say he had been in contact with a six-year-old child, it said.
A few weeks later, his case management team received information that he had been seen talking to an unknown woman pushing a baby carriage.
A few days later, he was seen holding hands with an unknown woman and “only disclosed this relationship after being seen.”
During a routine search at the community correctional center on April 27, officers found a smartphone charger in his room, according to the six-page document.
On May 4, staff received a call that Venus had visited a woman’s house and “tickled” a child.
“The police also stated that credible information was received that [he was] in the presence of a person under the age of 18, sometimes alone and more than once,” the document says.
As a result, his release was suspended on May 5 and a warrant was issued for his detention.
Sexual assault, pending sexual assault charges
“The board is of the opinion that there is sufficient reliable and persuasive information on file to be satisfied that you have violated your special conditions for reporting relationships and related to the presence of children under the age of 18,” the decision said .
The board noted that there had been “a number” of previous “incidents of concern” that had not resulted in Venus monitoring being suspended.
There was information that he “has contact with children or [was] forming relationships/friendships with women,” according to the parole board. This led to limited access to or “discussions” with the community.
“The board concludes that there is clear and convincing evidence not only of your offending, but also of increasing your risk of returning to a cycle of offending,” the ruling said.
“Because the board is convinced that an appropriate supervision program cannot be established that will adequately protect the public from your risk of reoffending, and the violation has occurred, the board recommends that an information charging you with a violation under Penal Code section 753.3,” violation of a long-term supervision order.
“It is noted that new charges of sexual assault and sexual interference will be brought against you,” the ruling said.
At this time, St. John’s police have no new charges against Venus, said Staff Sgt. Andrew McBean.
A ‘well above average’ risk of reoffending
A specialized sex offender assessment in October 2019 concluded that Venus poses a moderate risk of reoffending overall, a moderate risk of violent reoffending, and a well above average risk of sexual reoffending.
A spousal assault risk assessment completed in May 2018 found he posed a moderate immediate risk of partner violence and a high immediate risk of other violence.
Venus scored 21 on the criminal risk index. A study found that 30 percent of male federal offenders in this category committed a crime within three years of release.
His potential for reintegration is assessed as low.
The previous statutory exemption was revoked
During Venus’ previous federal sentence, his legal release was delayed after a month because his risk was deemed “no longer manageable.”
His relationship had “deteriorated”, he had contact with underage women and had access to pornography, according to the parole board.
In May 2020, the board concluded that he was “likely” to commit a sex offense involving a child before the end of his sentence if released, and ordered his detention.
Cut the clothes off the sleeping girl
Venus’ criminal record includes two counts of sexual assault, one of which involved breaking into a home, going into a girl’s bedroom and cutting off her clothes while she slept. He was gone when she woke up.
Other crimes also have sexual components, the board noted, such as home invasion and theft or going through underwear.
A psychiatric evaluation conducted for the court in 2017 found that Venus suffered from deviant sexual preferences for sexual contact with pubescent and/or pre-pubescent individuals and a fetishistic disorder, specifically towards female underwear.
His sexual behavior began as a child, including his exposure to other children. He was sent to a treatment facility, where several incidents of a sexual nature occurred, such as masturbating in front of others, fantasizing about female staff, making inappropriate comments, and stealing clothes.
Venus had a difficult upbringing, according to the parole board. He was the victim of physical and sexual abuse as well as severe neglect and grew up in poverty, the document states. He also witnessed domestic violence and sexual harassment.
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