A judge has ordered that Collin Dennis Ayorech, a recently released high-risk offender, will spend the next 18 months under strict conditions designed to protect the public and support his rehabilitation. The order was issued on Monday by Justice Harry Van Harten, who approved a joint submission from the Crown and defense.
Peace bond conditions
Ayorech is now subject to a Criminal Code peace bond that includes electronic monitoring by the Calgary Police Service. Crown prosecutor Karuna Ramakrishnan informed the Calgary Court of Justice that Ayorech had been under house arrest since his release from prison in February, pending his agreement to the peace bond.
The conditions imposed include a nightly curfew, a prohibition on contacting his most recent victim, and a ban on consuming alcohol or recreational drugs. Justice Van Harten emphasized that any breach of these conditions could result in Ayorech being returned to custody, possibly at the Kent Institution, a maximum-security prison in Agassiz, British Columbia, where he previously served over a year.
Warning from the judge
Van Harten described Kent as a tough place, to which Ayorech responded, “It is, I got my jaw broken while there.” Despite this, the judge noted that rehabilitation is an integral part of the criminal justice system. “It’s part of our criminal justice system not to keep people locked up forever, especially in a place like Kent,” Van Harten said. “I’m satisfied and hopeful about your agreement to this order.”
Background of the case
Police issued a public warning when Ayorech was released on February 6, after serving the entirety of an eight-year sentence handed down in August 2020. The sentence was reduced to 5.5 years due to credit for time served. Ayorech was convicted of aggravated assault and other charges related to a brutal attack on his then-girlfriend, Dawn Warden, during which he severed three of her fingers, trapped her in a closet, and set her room on fire.
As part of the peace bond, Ayorech must remain at least 1,000 meters away from Warden. The Calgary Police Service’s High Risk Offender Program will monitor his compliance through electronic tracking.
