(file photo)

By Susan McNeil

Dangerous offender

Appeal court orders new sentencing hearing for man named dangerous offender

Feb 10, 2025 | 1:56 PM

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story contains details of harms against children

A man who has been convicted of violent offences – some involving young children – on multiple occasions will get a second hearing after he was labeled a dangerous offender.

Nathan Manuel Stevenson did not dispute his designation as a dangerous offender but wanted reconsideration of the indeterminate sentence given to him in October 2021.

He based his appeal on the notion the judge did not consider the least restrictive sanction needed to the protect the public and manage his risk, that prospective treatment was not considered properly, the judge did not consider Gladue factors and argued the sentence was demonstrably unfit and unreasonable.

Saskatchewan’s Court of Appeal agreed the judge erred in failing to consider the least intrusive sentence but, because it lacked enough information to impose a new sentence, they instead ordered a new hearing.

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In 2017, Stevenson was left with the care of his then common-law partner’s five-year-old daughter.

His partner was at work and later in the day, Stevenson’s son called 911 and reported his father was beating the child.

Responding police officers found the child lying naked in a bathtub with an intoxicated Stevenson standing over her. She had injuries to her face, neck and collarbone and said her ears were ringing and she hurt everywhere.

Examination at the hospital showed bruising and injury to her chest, abdomen and lower extremities and two cigarette burns. She had human bite marks on both of her arms, a concussion and a broken jaw.

People can be declared dangerous offenders after repeatedly being convicted and re-offending and the indeterminate sentences that are sometimes handed down as a result have no timeline attached to them.

Instead, the offender is released once the system is satisfied they are no longer a danger to the public.

In Stevenson’s case, he was convicted in 2006 of assault in Prince Albert, assault causing bodily harm in Regina two years later, another assault in 2009 in Broadview, two charges in 2013 coming out of North Battleford and two subsequent assault convictions in 2015, one on a peace officer.

Notably, in 2007, he assaulted a three-year-old girl, also the daughter of a common law partner. That victim was left bloodied, her eyes nearly swollen shut, swollen lips and bruising all over her body.

He has five assaults on his record for beating female partners, getting time in custody on each occasion.

When other incidents such as uttering threats, theft, weapons charges, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, fleeing from police, obstruction and 27 failures to comply are added in, Stevenson has 54 criminal convictions in his history.

A forensic psychiatrist who testified at the first hearing said Stevenson did not take moral or psychological responsibility for his actions and minimized his offences.

Dr. Lohrasbe also could not say at the time that Stevenson was untreatable or give his opinion that treatment would get his to the point his risk would be manageable in the community.

“He is a complicated guy, and his offences are so unique that I am hesitant either way. He could — he could make a remarkable turnaround, or he could do little to address his risk, and I just — hard — hard to know which way he’ll move,” testified Lohrasbe.

A potential alternative to an indeterminate sentence would be a long-term sentencing order served in the community.

Those types of sentences involve much closer monitoring than other community-based supervision, such as probation.

While his indeterminate sentence has been set aside, Stevenson will remain in custody pending the outcome of his new hearing.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky: @susanmcneil.bsky.social