A high-risk offender living in Kitchener had a brief taste of freedom before he was back in police custody.
Waterloo Regional Policeissued a public alertThursday following the statutory release of 60-year-old career criminal Kevin Koehler, who was convicted of manslaughter in 2013.
“Mr. Koehler has an extensive criminal history of violent offence convictions including criminal negligence causing death, assault with weapon, assault, and assault police,”cops advised the public in a news release.
Koehler, who served two-thirds of his manslaughter sentence, was back on the streets but was required to follow conditions of his judicial release.
Those conditions include avoiding purchasing and/or consuming alcohol or controlled substances, abiding by a curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., not contacting any of his past victims, family members of the victims, or witnesses in his criminal cases, and notifying police of any changes to his address.
“WRPS’ Offender Management Unit (OMU) believes Mr. Koehler poses a significant risk to public safety and a high risk of reoffending or breaching his terms,” police said.
At the time of his release, police said officers were taking a “multifaceted approach,” including regularly checking in with Koehler, to reduce the risk to public safety.
Police advised the public if Koehler is seen breaching the strict conditions of his release, to not approach him but call 911 immediately.
A day later, police said a member of the public tipped them off that Koehler had allegedly been seen breaching the conditions of his release order.
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“Officers conducted an investigation and Mr. Koehler was arrested for breaching a court order,” police said in an update to the advisory.
Koehler was held for a bail hearing where he was jailed until his court date, cops said.
The dangerous offender’s release was briefly revoked in September “based on deteriorating behaviours,” the parole board had said.
Koehler had just served a manslaughter sentence for the 2013 choking death of his vulnerable roommate, Mary Anne May, 55, in their Kitchener apartment.
Court heard that she moved in with him out of financial necessity while on disability benefits and working as a cleaner.
— With files from Brad Hunter
