Kevin Koehler, who was deemed a ‘significant risk to public safety,’ now living in Kitchener

Kevin Koehler has completed a 12-year sentence for killing his roommate but there are concerns he could reoffend. CTV’s Alexandra Holyk explains.

A man who was convicted of manslaughter for the choking death of his roommate has been released into the community.

On Thursday, the Waterloo Regional Police Service issued a public alert that Kevin Koehler had completed his sentence. They said the 60-year-old would now be living in Kitchener.

“Koehler has an extensive criminal history of violent offence convictions including criminal negligence causing death, assault with weapon, assault, and assault police,” the news release said.

Koehler was recently given a statutory release, for the third time in three years, which was then revoked in September. The Parole Board of Canada stated that their decision was “based on deteriorating behaviours.”

They said Koehler was spotted at an LCBO, despite the conditions of his release banning him from any drug and alcohol use or entering any business that primarily derived its income from the sale of alcohol.

When staff at his halfway house questioned Koehler, the board said he became agitated, referred to his victim, Mary Anne May, in “derogatory terms” and reenacted choking her by putting his hand on his own neck while describing the events that happened in 2013.

The board also noted that, later the same night, he got into a fight with another halfway house resident after he approached the resident’s female friend.

A suspension warrant was then issued, Koehler was arrested and taken to the Toronto South Detention Centre.

Koehler was released back into the community Thursday after serving his full sentence for May’s death.

According to Waterloo Regional Police, a release, signed by a provincial court judge, laid out conditions Koehler must follow while living in the community. They include reporting any change of address and abiding by a curfew, as well as a ban on buying or consuming any alcohol or other controlled substances.

“WRPS’ Offender Management Unit (OMU) believes Mr. Koehler poses a significant risk to public safety and a high risk of reoffending or breaching his terms,” police said, adding that officers will be conducting regular compliance checks. “WRPS is taking a multifaceted approach to mitigate the risk posed to public safety by Mr. Koehler, including conducting regular compliance checks, and is seeking public assistance to help reduce the risk.”

Koehler has a complicated criminal history. In 1985, he was also involved in a high-speed car chase near Walkerton. It ended in a fiery crash and the deaths of two teens and an Ontario Provincial Police officer. For that, Koehler spent three years behind bars on a charge of criminal negligence causing death.

Ari Goldkind, a criminal lawyer not involved in the case, is not optimistic about Koehler’s future.

“This man is a ticking time bomb,” he told CTV News. “The women of Waterloo, the Kitchener area, are sitting ducks to him.”

There is, however, not much that can be done now that Koehler has served his sentence.

“He’s not on parole, he’s not on supervision, he’s not on release,” Goldkind explained. “There’s very little that the police can do because they have no jurisdiction over him unless he commits another offense.”

On the same day Koehler got out, the Canadian government announced new legislation aimed at cracking down on violent and repeat offenders.

Goldkind said it does not apply in Koehler’s case.

“There’s nothing in there that addresses the parole board and detention reviews and warrant expiry.”