Man accused in U of M dormitory attack vows to 'do good' outside prison

A convicted sex offender accused of a recent attack on a woman sleeping in a University of Manitoba dormitory told a court earlier this year that he wants to “do good” in society after completing high-risk sex offender and addiction programs behind bars.

Garry Junior Edwards, 46, was arrested on Friday and arrested at the victim hours earlier at 120 Dafoe Rd. He was accused of assault in his room at the Arthur V. Mauro Residence at .

Edwards was released from prison on Nov. 6 after serving nearly every day of his 12-year sentence for two counts of sexual assault with a weapon and other crimes.

SUBMITTED Garry Junior Edwards: Charged with assaulting woman sleeping in U of M dormitory on Friday. — SUPPLIED

Garry Junior Edwards: Charged with assaulting woman sleeping in U of M dormitory on Friday.

Two months later Edwards was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for failing to return to the halfway house in Osborne Street where he had been ordered to reside.

The court heard Edwards failed to return to the rehabilitation center on November 22, a day after urinalysis results showed he had consumed alcohol, methamphetamine and cocaine. An arrest warrant was issued for him and he was taken into custody again on December 14.

Crown attorney Kevin Clayton described Edwards’ record as “appalling” and “very concerning” and also noted that he had completed “all sorts” of rehabilitation programs while in custody.

“It’s unfortunate that things quickly deteriorated following his release to Winnipeg,” Clayton told district court Judge Anne Krahn at his Jan. 23 sentencing hearing.

Defense lawyer Sean Gallop said Edwards “ran into friends” with whom he consumed drugs and alcohol and then panicked.

“He is 100 percent remorseful,” Gallop said. “He didn’t know what to do.”

Edwards “eventually wanted to join the community and be successful,” Gallop said. “He did well (in prison) and completed a lot of programs — all the high-risk sex programs and addiction programs.”

Krahn warned Edwards to “follow the rules” upon his release or he would be detained again.

“Hopefully at this point you’re getting over the cycle of being in and out of custody,” Krahn said. “If you can stay away from alcohol and drugs and work with your parole officer, a much more peaceful life awaits you.”

Edwards’ attacks on two women in 2012 were also linked to drug addiction. At his sentencing in 2013, the court heard Edwards was an almost lifelong cocaine addict and began robbing victims for drug money.

Ruth Bonneville / The Free Press At approximately 4:45 Monday morning, the Winnipeg Police Service responded to a report of a robbery, break-in and assault at the Arthur V. Mauro Residence Hall complex on Dafoe Rd. at the University of Manitoba. An adult female reported that while she was in her suite, an intruder entered her room and physically assaulted her. He managed to neutralize the suspect who asked for help. It was learned that the injured woman was under treatment and her condition was stable. — Ruth Bonneville / Free Press

At approximately 4:45 Monday morning, the Winnipeg Police Service responded to a report of breaking, entering and assault at the Arthur V. Mauro Residence Hall complex on Dafoe Rd. at the University of Manitoba. An adult female reported that while she was in her suite, an intruder entered her room and physically assaulted her. He managed to neutralize the suspect who asked for help. It was learned that the injured woman was under treatment and her condition was stable.

The court heard Edwards grabbed a 21-year-old woman from the street near Cityplace and threatened to stab her, then grabbed her bag, dragged her to a secluded area and sexually assaulted her.