A man who made headlines for breaching court orders within hours of his release will not be walking the streets of Guelph anytime soon. Medhani Yohans appeared in court again on Wednesday as he faced charges related to violating court orders requiring him to stay away from downtown Guelph. Yohans was released from the Maplehurst Correctional Complex in Milton on July 31. Shortly after, Guelph Police said he got on a bus, went to downtown Guelph and was spotted shopping in various stores and walking around. He was re-arrested within hours and was denied bail in August. On Wednesday, he pleaded guilty, through an interpreter, to three counts of violating his probation orders. When Justice Lynn Robinson asked if he had anything to say, Yohans replied, “When I was released, I went to the bus and then the weed store. That is my crime.” The court was told Yohans visited at least three cannabis stores prior to his arrest on July 31. When asked what he thought his sentence should be, he said, “This is a simple crime, so I should be released.” He has been sentenced to 12 months in jail, minus the time he has already served. The 37-year-old will now spend 219 more days behind bars. “The flagrant and repetitive breaches committed by Mr. Yohans ought to have a more significant penalty,” Justice Robinson said. While the Crown’s position that Yohans be sentenced to 12 months in custody was not outside the norm, Justice Robinson said she “would have imposed a period of custody in the range of 16 to 18 months.” History of Violence Yohans has been in and out of custody since 2024 and has previously been convicted of sexually assaulting women and three indecent acts. Guelph Police officials believe he is likely to reoffend and poses a serious danger to the community. His criminal record stretches back to 2018, a year after he arrived in Canada from Eritrea. During the previous court hearing in August where Yohans was denied bail, he was asked if he was remorseful for what he had done to women and whether he believed he had the right to approach and touch a woman. “You’re asking me a lot of questions,” Yohans responded. During that hearing, the Crown also questioned Yohans about his history and his ability to comply with court orders. “Last year while being assessed by a medical doctor you told the doctor you would sexually assault her if it weren’t for the presence of other men there,” Assistant Crown Attorney Robert Butler told the court.
