Jail for client who refuses to stop harassing former lawyer

A Manitoba man who defied a protection order in his pursuit of a romantic relationship with his former lawyer has been handed a 30-day jail sentence for criminal harassment and disobeying court orders.

“When you are ordered by a court not to do something, you need to obey that order,” provincial court Judge John Combs told 38-year-old Marvin Manago. “You were directed by a court not to communicate with (the victim) and you deliberately defied that order on numerous occasions.”

Manago, who has no prior criminal record, spent more than four months in custody before his sentencing this month.

Manago was sentenced to an additional two years of supervised probation, during which time he is to have no contact with his victim, undergo counselling and not go to the Law Courts building unless legally required.

Court was told the victim represented Manago on a legal matter in the fall of 2023.

“During their professional relationship, Mr. Manago made numerous inappropriate comments to (the lawyer) about loving her, asking her out on dates and trying to meet up,” special prosecutor Kerry UnRuh told court. “This made (the lawyer) uncomfortable and she requested that Mr. Manago stop making these advances.”

When Manago’s legal matter was resolved in October 2023, the lawyer told him he would have to find different legal counsel in the future, UnRuh said.

But Manago continued to call the lawyer, leaving voicemail messages that suggested he had a legitimate legal question before progressing to comments about his love for her. The lawyer had an assistant call Manago and tell him not to contact her and blocked his number on her cellphone.

Undeterred, Manago continued to call and leave messages on the lawyer’s office phone and over the next several months showed up repeatedly at the office looking for the lawyer.

In April 2024, the lawyer reported the incidents to RCMP and requested Manago be issued a barring notice under the Petty Trespass Act. Manago signed the notice but continued to show up at the lawyer’s office about once a month, UnRuh said.

On Oct. 16, 2025, the lawyer had just wrapped up a matter at the Law Courts Building when Manago approached her.

The lawyer “advised him she was busy” and Manago sat on a couch to wait for her. Sheriff’s officers eventually took him out of the building.

The following day the lawyer applied for and was granted a protection order that requires Manago to have no contact with her. Manago continued to call the lawyer’s office, including when he called five times on one day.

The lawyer reported the continuing harassment to Winnipeg police, who arranged to meet Manago at the legislature on Jan. 12. When Manago didn’t show up, police issued a warrant for his arrest. Manago was taken into custody Feb. 1.

“There is some concern in terms off the escalating behaviour,” UnRuh said. “I’m concerned that if Mr. Manago doesn’t get the message, he will be back before the court in similar circumstances.”

Defence lawyer Ed Murphy likened Manago’s behaviour to transference, a “not uncommon” phenomenon where psychoanalysis patients project feelings of affection on to their therapists.

“Unfortunately for (the lawyer), Mr. Manago started to develop feelings for (her) and they went beyond professional… and were not reciprocated in any way, shape or form.”

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca