High-risk offender pleads guilty to probation violation, banned from downtown Guelph

A high-risk offender has been sentenced for breaching the conditions of his release.

A high-risk offender will be spending a little more time behind bars.

Medhani Yohans, 37, appeared in court on Monday, where he pleaded guilty to a probation violation with the help of an interpreter.

He had been released from custody on February 2, but was re-arrested less than two hours later for breaching his release conditions, which included not being within 100 metres of where an unnamed person lived, worked or was known to visit.

The court was told on the day of Yohans’ release he went to his parole office and said he wanted to go to Ontario Works.

He was warned that taking a direct route to Ontario Works would a breach of his conditions and was encouraged to take an alternate path. However, the court was told he ignored that advice and instead walked past a building that would violate his release conditions.

He was arrested minutes later.

On Monday, Yohans was sentenced to nine-months in jail, minus time already served. He has 70 days remaining. Once released, he will be given three years of probation, including a ban from downtown Guelph between Woolwich Street, Wellington Street, Gordon Street, Norfolk Street and Yarmouth Street.

A history of violence

Yohans is well known to local police officers. Prior to his release on Monday, he had been behind bars since an arrest last July.

Yohans has a history of violence, including at least two sexual assaults involving strangers.

“The Guelph Police Service believes that Yohans poses a risk to the community, particularly to women, and is concerned that he may commit similar offences in the future,” a news release said, following his release on Monday.

The Toronto Police Service announced Yohans had been released on July 29, 2024. In response, the Guelph Police Service warned he may pose a risk to the community, especially women. They also expressed concern he may commit “similar offences” in the future.

Yohans was required to check-in with Guelph Police within seven days of his release in Toronto. When he failed to do that, a warrant was issued for his arrest.

He was taken into custody by Guelph Police Service officers on Aug. 23, 2024, and released on March 1, 2025.

A week later, on March 8, 2025, Yohans was rearrested for once again breaching the conditions set out for him. He was released the next day.

Less than 24 hours later, Guelph police said he was taken into custody again after he was found sleeping on a bench at the University of Guelph.

Yohans completed his sentence on July 24, 2025, and, as before, he was rearrested the following day.

Up until Monday, he had been behind bars ever since that arrest. At one point, he refused to appear in court for his bail hearing.

Police have said he has a history in Guelph dating back to 2017.