Winnipeg man hired to renovate family’s home groomed, sexually assaulted teen son: police

CTV’s Danton Unger has more on a sex offender in Winnipeg who is now facing new charges.

A 44-year-old Winnipeg man is facing charges in two separate sexual assault investigations involving teenage boys.

Police say they began investigating the man in March.

Police found he had been hired by a family to do renovation work. Over the course of 11 months, police say he formed a trusting relationship with the family, including spending time with their teenage son.

Between August 2024 and March 2025, police say the teenager was groomed and spent independent time at the man’s home.

According to police, the suspect gave the teenage boy a cell phone so he could contact him.

Police say he sexually assaulted the teenager. The abuse was not reported until later in the investigation.

Officers say the family learned of the man’s past and ceased all ties with him, at which point the suspect fled Winnipeg.

Still, the man repeatedly tried to contact the family. They reported him to police and a warrant for criminal harassment was issued.

In March 2025, with help from the Calgary Police Service, the man was arrested in Calgary and several electronic devices were seized.

He was taken back to Winnipeg and was released on a release order.

Police say forensic examination of the devices seized from the man found child sexual abuse material.

Ryan James Knight, 44, was arrested in July 2025 near Mountain Avenue and Aikins Street. He is facing a number of sexual assault and child pornography charges.

He was detained in custody.

Police also searched a home in the 700 block of Atlantic Avenue where they seized data storage devices.

Officers continued to investigate and found a second teenage victim.

Police say the suspect was a family acquaintance and built a trusting relationship with the youth and his parent.

In August 2024, police say the teen was at the man’s home for a sleepover when he was sexually assaulted. The abuse was not initially reported to police.

A forensic examination of the storage devices seized from the home found additional child sexual abuse material.

In consult with the Crown, police say some of the charges laid in relation to the first youth in July were stayed then re-laid, along with new charges relating to the second victim.

On Jan. 25, the WPS child abuse unit went to the Headingley Correctional Centre.

Knight was arrested and charged with nine offences, including two counts of sexual assault and two counts of possession of child pornography.

He remains in custody.

Meanwhile, Winnipeg police confirmed to CTV News that Knight was previously identified in a 2014 sex offender notification issued by the province under the names Ryan James Gabourie and Ryan James Knight.

According to the notification, Knight was previously convicted of a number of charges, including sexual assault, possession of child pornography, as well as many other criminal offences.

The province warned male and female children were at risk upon his release.

Police continue to investigate. Anyone with information who wants to speak to an investigator can call the child abuse unit at 204-986-3296.

None of the allegations have been tested in court.