Saint John police have issued a public safety alert about the release of a “high-risk offender” from federal custody.
Harvey Venus has completed a four-year sentence for sexual interference involving a person under the age of 16 in Nova Scotia.
Police said the 36-year-old, who was released from Dorchester Penitentiary, is living at a community correctional centre in the city.
According to police, Venus has been designated as a “high-risk offender” by Correctional Service Canada.
“Information available to the police indicates that this individual presents a risk of significant harm to children under the age of 16,” the police force said in a news release Friday.
Venus has a record of previous convictions for sexual offences involving children under the age of 16, according to the release.
He is described as being 5’1″ tall, weighing 179 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.
Police said after “careful consideration” of all factors, they felt it was “clearly in the public interest to inform members of the community” of Venus’ release.
“This public notification is given to enable members of the public to take suitable precautionary measures. It is not meant to lead to or condone vigilante actions or other unreasonable conduct toward the offender.”
