New charges for convicted sex offender who changed name

A 44-year-old convicted child sex offender who was rearrested last year is facing new charges after Winnipeg police learned of a second alleged victim.

Ryan James Knight — who was born Ryan James Gabourie and legally changed his name following a prison sentence — is accused of sexually assaulting two teenage boys after befriending their families.

“Both instances are examples of classic predatory grooming behaviours — playing the long game, connecting with the family, building trust, building acceptance, often being accepted into the family’s home, having access to children, forging relationships with the children and basically creating opportunities to offend,” said Winnipeg Police Service spokeswoman Const. Dani McKinnon.

Police said they began investigating Knight for child exploitation in March 2025, after he allegedly groomed the son of a family who hired him to renovate their home.

Knight is accused of giving a cellphone to the teen so he could contact the boy, who police say spent time at the suspect’s home between August 2024 and March 2025.

Knight allegedly sexually assaulted the boy during that time. The abuse was not reported until later in the investigation, police said.

The family cut ties with Knight when they learned of his past. Police said Knight fled Winnipeg and repeatedly tried to contact the family, leading to a warrant for criminal harassment.

Knight was arrested in Calgary and several electronic devices were seized in March 2025. The suspect was released with conditions after being brought back to Winnipeg.

After police allegedly found child sexual abuse material on the devices, Knight was arrested near Mountain Avenue and Aikins Street last July, charged with several offences and held in custody.

Officers seized data storage devices when they searched a home in the 700 block of Atlantic Avenue. Investigators identified a second survivor, determining that Knight was a family acquaintance and built a trusting relationship with the teen and his parent, police said.

Knight is accused of sexually assaulting the boy during a sleepover at the suspect’s home in August 2024. Police said the abuse was not initially reported.

Forensic exam

In October, a forensic examination of all the seized devices allegedly revealed additional child sexual abuse material.

After police consulted the Crown, some of the initial charges related to the first teenager were stayed, and then laid again along with new charges related to the second teenager.

Investigators from the child abuse unit arrested Knight at Headingley Correctional Centre on Sunday.

Knight is charged with two counts each of sexual assault, sexual interference and possession of child sexual abuse material. He faces additional charges of making, printing, publishing or possession for the purpose of publication any child abuse material; accessing child abuse material; and criminal harassment.

Knight remains in custody. The child abuse unit continues to investigate. Police are asking anyone who has information or who wants to speak to an investigator to call 204-986-3296.

Sexual assault survivors can seek support by calling WPS victim services at 204-986-6350 or Klinic’s crisis line at 204-786-8631.

“We know from doing (news) releases similar in nature in the past that there have been circumstances where other survivors have read the release and felt a sense of empowerment, or perhaps that they are ready to come forward,” McKinnon said.

“There is always a possibility, especially when both situations that were highlighted are so similar in nature… that this type of crime was planned and perpetrated against another individual or family.”

Name change

In November, the Free Press reported the initial charges involving the original complainant, after speaking to the mother of a different boy who knew Knight.

The woman said she checked court records after befriending Knight, but nothing alarming came up because, unbeknownst to her, he changed his last name from Gabourie in 2021.

Last fall, she learned of the initial charges from another parent. She was horrified Knight, who connected with her son through a sports community, was allowed to change his name.

As Ryan Gabourie, he was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2005 for sexually molesting five young boys after he entered their homes through unlocked windows and doors.

He served another three years for repeatedly violating release conditions, including contact with a known sex offender.

The Free Press’ interview with the mother (whose son is not one of the two complainants) raised questions about the status of the NDP government’s Change of Name Amendment Act.

It received royal assent in 2024 — three years after Knight changed his name — but did not go into effect, awaiting the establishment of regulations.

Disturbing

The law is intended to prevent convicted sex offenders from changing their names.

Hours after the Free Press published the mother’s interview, the law went into effect after Public Services Delivery Minister Mintu Sandhu signed an order in council to establish the regulations.

Multiple community notifications were issued for Ryan Gabourie during his releases from custody between 2011 and 2024. The notifications warned he was a high risk to reoffend.

The notifications are still on the province’s website. They have been updated to reflect the name change.

Jacques Marcoux, director of research and analytics for the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, said the additional charges are very disturbing.

“We believe the new requirements under Manitoba’s Change of Name Act that would block attempts by serious offenders to alter their legal names enhances public safety, especially for children,” he wrote in a statement. “There is no silver bullet, but this recent legislative change does reduce the risk of dangerous individuals entering into contact with vulnerable persons in our community.”

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca