Accused in water treatment plant vandalism out on bail

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This article was published 09/09/2023 (1111 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Winnipeg man accused of causing millions in damage to property at a city-owned water treatment plant was out on bail — against the Crown’s advice — on charges of sexually touching a minor.

The man is alleged to have broken in to a City of Winnipeg plant in the RM of Springfield early Sept. 3, and used an excavator to destroy several vehicles and damage a building. RCMP have charged Aaron Michael Yarema, 39, with several offences.

At the time, Yarema was facing a charge of sexual interference for allegedly groping a young person multiple times between March 1, 2016, and March 31, 2018, when the victim was between 8 and 11 years old, court records show.

His record shows no convictions, and his pending charges have not been tried in court. He is presumed innocent.

Yarema had been arrested outside the Salvation Army on Feb. 26 after police learned he was wanted on a warrant for the sex charge.

Upon his arrest, Yarema denied allegations he had touched the victim but admitted to having “sexual tensions toward her,” Crown attorney Rohit Sanggar said.

In a hearing on March 2, Sanggar urged the court not to release him.

“He does not see anything wrong with a 35-year-old male having sex with an 11-year-old girl as long as everyone is ‘positively impacted,’” Sanggar said. “The Crown is of the view that Mr. Yarema poses a threat to the protection and safety of the public, so therefore, we are opposed to his release.”

Yarema, who is homeless and has a history of substance abuse, would be difficult to track down if released and was unlikely to attend court appearances. Additionally, he has displayed erratic and concerning behaviour, Sanggar argued.

The Crown attorney told court about a July 2021 incident in which Yarema went to the legislature and reportedly began “yelling comments about how he was a rapist, and that he assaulted and was in love with a 12-year-old.”

A month later, he went to the Winnipeg Police Service headquarters at 266 Graham Ave. while high on cocaine and admitted to having sex with his young relative, the Crown said.

His admission was referred to the police department’s child abuse unit, but Yarema did not provide an official statement to police until after Dec. 7, 2021, when the underage victim also reported the abuse to a social worker, Sanggar said.

Manitoba’s provincial court did not officially charge him until nearly two years later, in October 2022.

Judge Mary Kate Harvie, who oversaw the March 2 release hearing, said the amount of time between the initial sexual abuse reports and the official charges was concerning.

“Despite the fact these are somewhat dated charges, and I am concerned about some of the systemic delay that has occurred so far, these are still very serious charges,” she said.

Defence lawyer Shira Brand argued for Yarema’s release because he had no previous convictions.

Harvie granted him release on the condition he not contact the victim and not be alone with any child younger than 16 without another adult present.

Yarema was supposed to appear in court April 18, but a lawyer attended on his behalf, court records show.

During a water and waste committee meeting at city hall on Friday, officials estimated the damage to the water treatment plant will total $4 to $5 million.

Tim Shanks, the city’s water and waste director, said 15 vehicles are expected to be written off, including three owned by employees.

A skid steer, mower, smaller backhoe and buildings were also damaged.

“I can certainly confirm that we’re performing a security audit to see what we can improve,” he said.

The plant has layered security, including fences, gates and cameras, but officials will assess what else could be done to prevent such incidents, he said.

“This was a very different type of event.”

The drinking water treatment process was not affected, the city said.

The person responsible for the damage is not believed to be a former employee of the department, Shanks said.

Yarema’s next court appearance is slated for Sept. 26.

— with files from Joyanne Pursaga

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca