Police warn of high-risk offender now living in Halifax

Halifax Regional Police say a high-risk offender who has a lengthy criminal record and was convicted of kidnapping a 10-year-old girl in Calgary in 2011 is now living in Halifax.

John Francis Normand Dionne, 52, was recently released from the Dorschester Penitentiary in New Brunswick after completing a sentence for kidnapping, unlawful confinement and impersonating a peace officer.

Police say Dionne, a long-term offender, has a criminal record datingback to 1985 that includes sexual assault, assault, kidnapping and drug trafficking.

According to a Parole Board of Canada decisiondated Nov. 18, 2019, Dionne hasassaulted "at least three young females."

He's been assessed as being ata high risk to reoffend.

Halifax Regional Police said in a news release on Thursdaythey wanted to let the public know Dionne was living in the community and cautioned against "any form of vigilante activity or other unreasonable conduct."

According to the parole documents, Dionne has been ordered to live in ahalfway house.

Police say Dionne is on a long-term supervision order and will be required to follow strict conditions, including:

• Restrictions on any activity that involveschildren under the age of 18.
• Staying away from alcohol and drugs.
• Not being allowed to have any weapon, knife or sharp instrument outside his residence.

Under a long-term supervision order, offenders can be sent back to prison ifrelease conditions are broken.

Prior to his arrest and conviction for kidnapping in 2011, RCMPissued a public warning about Dionne in 2010thatoutlined his history of violence andsexual offences against girls as young as 10. Police at the time said he wasat a high risk to reoffend.