Calgary Dangerous Offender Receives Indefinite Prison Term After Judge Deems Risk Unmanageable
Despite maintaining his innocence and claiming to be a victim of false allegations, Calgary dangerous offender Lee Todd Laviolette has been handed an indeterminate prison sentence. Justice Allan Fradsham ruled on Tuesday that Laviolette poses too great a risk to society to be managed under any lesser penalty.
Judge's Ruling on Public Safety Concerns
Justice Fradsham agreed with Crown prosecutor Karuna Ramakrishnan that an indefinite prison term was necessary to prevent future violent crimes. The judge explicitly stated that no reasonable expectation exists for a lesser sentence to adequately protect the public from Laviolette committing serious personal injury offences.
"I am satisfied that there is no reasonable expectation that a lesser sentence than detention in a penitentiary for an indeterminate period of time will adequately protect the public against the commission by Mr. Laviolette of a serious personal injury offence," Fradsham declared in his ruling.
Laviolette's Response and Appeal Plans
Following the sentencing, Laviolette immediately questioned whether he was receiving a life sentence. "Your honour, so what you're saying is I'm doing life?" he asked the court.
Justice Fradsham clarified that the sentence represented an indeterminate period of detention, not necessarily life imprisonment, and informed Laviolette of his right to appeal. Laviolette promptly declared his intention to appeal the decision, stating "I want an appeal" in court.
Extensive Criminal History Spanning Decades
The 56-year-old Calgary man's criminal record extends over 35 years and includes multiple serious offences:
- 1992 conviction for forcible confinement
- 1994 charge of committing an indecent act
- 1999 sexual assault conviction
- 2003 additional sexual assault conviction
- 2021 conviction for sexual assault of a 14-year-old runaway
Details of Most Recent Offence
Laviolette's most recent crime occurred seven years ago when he was homeless and living in a makeshift encampment south of the Stampede grounds. He was convicted in March 2021 for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old runaway at his camp.
During proceedings, Laviolette presented a disturbing narrative, claiming the teenager had assaulted him. He testified that the victim "raped me twice at my camp" and described her as being "too heavy and too strong" to push away. Laviolette characterized the alleged victim's actions as "sick, nasty, gross and disgusting."
Pattern of Denial and Self-Representation
Throughout the legal process, Laviolette consistently denied his history of violence against women and girls. He represented himself after a falling out with his defence lawyer, Kim Ross, who remained on the case as amicus to the court.
Justice Fradsham noted that Laviolette maintained he had "been wrongly accused many times of sexual assault" and claimed to be "dead against violence." The offender's pattern of denying responsibility while portraying himself as a victim factored significantly into the court's assessment of his dangerousness.
Future Review Possibilities
While Laviolette's sentence could potentially keep him incarcerated for the remainder of his life, the indeterminate term does include provisions for periodic review. The justice system will reassess his case at intervals to determine whether he continues to pose a serious risk to society or if circumstances might warrant reconsideration of his detention status.
This case highlights the Canadian justice system's approach to managing offenders deemed too dangerous for conventional sentencing structures, balancing public safety concerns with legal protections for those facing indefinite detention.
