A trans-identified male sex offender will be serving part of his sentence in a community-based facility after being re-arrested days after his release from prison following a conviction for accessing infant sexual abuse material. Laverne Waskahat, 47, violated the conditions of his release within 48 hours of being released from prison, accumulating child pornography almost immediately after being let out.
Waskahat, 47, has an extensive history of possessing, creating, and distributing child pornography involving male and female infants under three years old. Waskahat had also previously committed sexual offences against children in his care and was known to take voyeuristic photos of infants in public, primarily in bathrooms at malls and grocery stores.
On December 11, 2023, Waskahat was released to the community despite Edmonton Police Service being aware of his risk to the public. Prior to his release, they issued public statements advising the community to beware of the child predator. They wrote that there was “reasonable grounds to believe [he] is of significant harm to the community” and was at risk of imminently committing a sexual offense against a child under the age of 16.
After completing his prison time for three sex offenses, Waskahat was released, but by December 14, he was back in police custody after violating the terms of his parole. His conditions had included curfew, a ban on owning devices that could access the internet, a ban on possessing or viewing any kind of pornography, a ban on possessing images of children, and he was also not allowed to entire into a relationship with someone who had a child under 16.
After failing to notify his parole officer of his location, police managed to track down the convicted sex offender to a hotel thanks to a tip from a member of the public. At the time of his arrest, police found a baby crib, diapers, dozens of alleged pornographic drawings and a laptop in Waskahat’s room.
Following his arrest, Waskahat received additional charges and met with the parole board, who ultimately decided to send him to a community-based facility.
Toronto Sun reporter Brad Hunter received a report from the National Parole Board which detailed the evaluation of Waskahat and detailed the criminal’s long history of predatory behaviour towards infants. They documented that Waskahat’s criminal behavior began as early as 2011, and that over the years he had accumulated hundreds of photos of babies being sexually abused.
Disturbingly, Waskahat had also become a moderator on a “diaper rash” community group.
Parole board notes included in the reports read, “You have had previous statutory releases revoked for sexually deviant behavior … you have also reported significant criminal behavior that you have not been charged with.”
“Your own sexually deviant behaviour began as a child, and has continued unabated,” the panel wrote. “It is noted that there is a lack of any triggers for your sexually deviant behaviour, rather you engage in the behaviour as part of your daily life.”
In accordance with the Gladue principles, the parole board took into consideration Waskahat’s Indigenous background. The principles state that judge and parole boards must take into consideration an individual’s Indigenous heritage when determining a fit and fair sentence.
The board noted that Waskahat was neglected and abused as an infant before being adopted into a loving home. However, the report was damning regarding Waskahat’s perversions and risk of reoffending. It noted that he had already completed an intensive treatment program for sexual offenders but lacked motivation, accountability, and possessed a low potential for successful societal reintegration. Diaperism, infantilism, sexual sadism and pedophilia where all listed in the report as paraphilas which Waskahat’s possess.
“The psychological information on file speaks to your extensive and complex deviant sexual interests, including diaperism, infantilism, sexual sadism and pedophilia, all of which aggravate your risk to reoffend,” the reported stated.
“You are perpetually in your ‘offense’ cycle, showing that you continue to pose a significant risk to reoffend,” the panel said, adding that Walkahat was “extremely predatory” and at the apex of the “risk continuum.”