Lethbridge police are warning the public of a person they believe is at high-risk of re-offending after he served a federal sentence for serious convictions against a child.
“Cory Raymond Cook, 23, was recently released from custody on a Peace Bond in relation to a sexual assault involving a four-year-old girl,” reads a news release from the Lethbridge Police Service. “Police believe Cook poses a significant risk of harm to children in the community. He engages in behavior that is impulsive and opportunistic and information in his file indicates he may attempt to seek out relationships with females who have children.”
He is bound by conditions prohibiting him from having any contact with children under the age of 16 and he must advise his probation officer of any relationships with people who have parental responsibilities with children under 16.
He is not permitted to enter any public park or swimming area where children under 16 are likely to be present. This includes daycares, playgrounds or community centres and he cannot seek employment or volunteer work in a capacity that involves being in a position of trust or authority towards persons under the age of 16.
“Cook has been assessed as an above average risk to re-offend and is being monitored by the LPS High Risk Offenders Unit,” LPS says. “The Lethbridge Police Service is issuing this information and warning after careful deliberation of all related issues, including privacy concerns, in the belief that it is clearly in the public interest to inform members of the community of the residency of Cory Cook. Police believe there is a significant risk to public safety.”
Cook is described as a Caucasian male, approximately 5’9” tall, 180 lbs., with dirty blond/brown hair and brown eyes. Police say he is known to change his appearance by growing facial hair or altering hair colour and style.
“Residents are advised that the intent of this process is to enable members of the public to take suitable precautionary measures and not to engage in any form of vigilante action,” the police press release concludes.