Dangerous status suits rapist: prosecutor

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This article was published 25/11/2008 (6129 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MANITOBA justice officials have taken the unusual step of asking a judge to lock away indefinitely a convicted rapist under the rarely used dangerous-offender section of the Criminal Code.

Kevin Steppan, 23, already had a history of sex crimes when he targeted two young women in recent attacks. The victims — who worked in the sex trade — were randomly selected, choked with a rope and seriously physically and sexually assaulted by the banks of the Assiniboine River on separate nights in August 2005.

Steppan has been in custody for more than three years and is waiting to be sentenced after pleading guilty to sexual assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm. The Crown prosecutor wants him branded a dangerous offender, saying he poses an uncontrollable risk to society and must be imprisoned indefinitely.

Steppan is fighting the application, which is being argued before provincial court Judge Linda Giesbrecht.

Joshua Cooney, unit manager for the sex-offender program at Headingley jail, painted a disturbing picture Monday of Steppan’s time behind bars. Although Steppan has expressed interest in treatment, he has been removed from the facility on multiple occasions because of erratic behaviour.

Cooney said the final straw came after Steppan began obsessing about two female employees at Headingley and admitted having “deviant” sexual fantasies about them.

“He’s the only offender I’ve ever had to relocate for staff safety concerns in my career. I had grave concerns about him being on the unit,” Cooney testified.

“He was having fantasies about sexually assaulting staff members. He is clearly a very risky offender.”

Steppan has also become combative with other inmates after they talked about the women because he is “jealous,” Cooney said.

There have been numerous fights and arguments that resulted in injuries and internal charges.

“He doesn’t have very good control over his behaviour,” Cooney said.

Steppan has also been caught stashing inappropriate material in his cell, which prison officials say only fuels his sexual desires. They include scantily clad women featured in the Winnipeg Sun newspaper as the Sunshine Girl, along with magazine and catalogue photos of teen and preteen girls modelling swimsuits and underwear, Cooney said.

Steppan has also talked about trying to escape from Headingley — a feat recently accomplished by a murder suspect who was caught weeks later in British Columbia.

“He disclosed to staff members a dream of climbing over a fence and escaping,” Cooney said.

Steppan was transferred to Brandon Correctional Centre earlier this year because of the concerns. Cooney said Steppan grew angry upon learning of the move and clenched his fists in an aggressive manner during a meeting.

Steppan has been put on repeated suicide watch and nearly made good on an attempt last March, when he covered his face with packing tape. His life was saved when jail officials found him and quickly cut a hole so he could breathe, Cooney said.

The Crown plans to call several other prison officials to testify. Only a handful of Manitobans have ever been designated dangerous offenders.

Inmates branded dangerous offenders can still apply for parole after serving seven years.

www.mikeoncrime.com