The high-risk sexual offender Halifax police warned us about once tried to kill one of his victims

The high-risk sexual offender Halifax Regional Police warned the public about last week was sent back to prison almost two years ago after authorities learned he was dating a woman with a child and lied to her about his criminal history of sexually abusing kids.

A judge gave Harvey Joseph Venus, 38, another 10 months behind bars on top of his four-year sentence for sexual interference for breaking the terms of his eight-year long-term supervision order just three months in. It forbids him from having contact with children.

“You began spending time alone with the child,” said his most recent parole decision.

“The mother later found out that you were a high-risk sex offender and contacted police.”

‘Left alone with children’

Venus just got out of prison on statutory release. The law requires federal offenders who have served two-thirds of a fixed-length sentence be released under supervision.

He’s been convicted of two counts of sexual assault, assault causing bodily harm, assault, and sexually interfering with someone under the age of 16.

“Your index offences began when you were left alone with children over whom you held a position of authority,” said the parole decision dated Jan. 29.

“You inappropriately touched the female victim and took pictures of her while she was undressed. The victim told a relative that you were dating at the time and police arrested you.”

‘Ongoing nightmares’

The judge banned him from owning weapons and placed Venus on the sex offender registry for life.

“In addition, the judge gave you a determinate dangerous offender designation,” said the parole board.

“One victim describes the ongoing nightmares and anxiety being experienced by the minor victim and the other victim explains how she has trust issues, fear, and undergoes counselling due to your criminal behaviour.”

‘Extreme poverty’

Venus was “born in extreme poverty and as a result grew up lacking the necessities of life,” said the parole board, noting his birth home didn’t have enough food, adequate clothing or heat.

“You experienced and witnessed physical and sexual abuse in the home and suffered from severe neglect at the hands of your parents. At the age of six, you were taken by family and children’s services and went into foster care where the abuse continued.”

Venus “began rebelling” and was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactive disorder,” said the parole board.

“You left high school in Grade 10 so you could work to provide for your child, you have completed your GED in 2020. Your employment history consists of a couple work placements while in high school and you report working for an excavating company for a while, however, you quit to move and begin a romantic relationship.”

‘Began at an early age’

According to several professional assessments, Venus has “an elevated risk for violent or sexual recidivism,” said the parole board.

“You have a history of sexual assault, assault, and violent behaviours towards your domestic partners, and you are impulsive and have difficulties thinking of the consequences of your actions. Your inappropriate sexual behaviours began at an early age when you exposed yourself to other children and attempted to kill a male victim utilizing force when he refused.”

Venus went “to a treatment facility where several incidents of a sexual nature were reported such as masturbating in front of others, fantasizing about female staff, making inappropriate comments and stealing their clothing. You present as having minimal control over your sexual urges despite participating in different forms of interventions throughout the years and your propensity for violence increases when you are associating with criminally minded peers and using” drugs.

‘Planned and oportunistic’

Venus justifies and minimizes his actions, said the parole board.

“However, your sexual offending has been both planned and opportunistic. Although you have participated in institutional programs, including the high intensity sex offender program, and interventions to mitigate your risk factors, you continue to put yourself in risky situations and have difficulty incorporating the risk managing skills you have learnt when in the community.”

As a condition of his release, Venus must live at a community-based residential facility.

“You are a very high-risk sex offender that will require close supervision and monitoring while under supervision,” said the parole board.

‘Closely monitored’

“What you will be doing while in the community needs to be closely monitored.”

His jailers and the parole board were both convinced that without that measure, Venus would commit another serious crime before his sentence winds down.

“There are no other supervision tools that can be used to mitigate your risk in the community,” said the parole board.

Venus informed the parole board last fall that he was “unable to secure community supports in the province of Québec.”

The parole board also ordered Venus to stay away from criminals.

“While negative associates are not identified as a contributing factor to your crime cycle you tend to gravitate towards other substance users and criminally active individuals. Any such future associations could increase your risk to reoffend.”

‘Intimate relationships’

Venus must “immediately report all intimate sexual and nonsexual relationships and friendships with females and any changes to the status of the relationships/friendships” to his parole officer.

“Intimate relationships are a high risk and a high need area for you. Actuarial tools assessed you to be a moderate risk of violence towards a partner and a high risk towards others. You have prior convictions for domestic violence. This special condition will provide your parole supervisor with an additional tool by which to monitor your relationships in the community and thereby mitigate against your likelihood to reoffend.”

Venus must avoid his victim and family.

‘Serious harm’

“Serious harm was deemed to have occurred in your index offending,” said the parole board.

“Any future contact with the victim or members of the victim’s family would only serve to renew this negative experience.”

Venus can’t be around girls under 18 or communicate with any child under that age.

“You are not to be in, near, or around places where children under the age of 18 are likely to congregate such as elementary and secondary schools, parks, swimming pools, and recreational centres,” said the parole board.

‘Deviant sexual preferences’

Psychologists have opined that Venus has “deviant sexual preferences for sexual contact with prepubescent and/or pubescent individuals and a fetishistic disorder towards female undergarments,” said the parole board.

“File information also notes you lied about your previous criminal history and manipulated your victims which was consistent with other background offences.”

Venus must stay away from porn and any device that can connect to the internet. And he’s only allowed one mobile phone and one SIM card unless his parole officer says different.

‘Billing statements’

“You are to provide your parole supervisor billing statements showing all incoming and outgoing calls upon request,” said the parole board.

“You are to provide unlocked telecommunication devices to allow monitoring of features including text messaging, call logs, instant messaging, photos, videos, emails, social media, financial applications, or any other specified upon request from your parole supervisor.”

Venus can’t purge information from his device without checking with his parole officer.

“Access to pornography, cameras, and other forms of communication played a role in your offence cycle. Access to pornography or any type of communication technology can increase your risk to reoffend.”

‘Could impact your judgement’

Venus must stay away from drugs and booze.

He was drinking when he committed a sexual assault in 2005.

“Any use of drugs or alcohol could impact your judgement abilities and thereby increase your likelihood to reoffend,” said the parole board.

Venus must also “follow a treatment plan in the areas of sexual deviancy, mental health, and violence,” it said.