The Edmonton Police Service has issued a warning to the public last week after a convicted child sex offender, who goes by Laverne Waskahat, was released from custody.
Police say Waskahat is believed to be of “significant harm to the community” and a risk to children under the age of 16.
The 47-year-old was taken into custody on Dec. 13, 2023, “after failing to report to her parole officer.” Waskahat was released Jan. 22, 2024.
The offender had a history of possessing, making and publishing child pornography involving male and female infants under the age of three. Waskahat has been known to abuse children while babysitting and take “voyeuristic photos in public of infants.”
Police warn that Waskahat may try to associate with someone who has young kids with the intent to groom and abuse them.
Waskahat is known to frequent public bathrooms such as shopping malls to carry out voyeuristic offending behaviour. Edmonton Police Service would not comment on which gender of bathroom Waskahat uses.
This isn’t the first time Waskahat has been released with a likelihood to re-offend. Police issued similar warnings in 2019 and 2020.
A parole officer in the Edmonton area is managing Waskahat.
Waskahat is 5’11’’, 170 lbs, and has brown eyes and black hair.
Edmonton police shared this information with the intent of enabling citizens to take suitable precautionary measures and not to encourage vigilante action.
Anyone with information about any criminal offences committed by Waskahat is asked to contact the Edmonton Police Service at 780-423-4567 or text #377 from a mobile device.
Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at p3tips.com/250
