A high-risk sex offender who served a 22-year sentence for sexually assaulting an Abbotsford museum worker in 1991 has been released from prison and is now living in Surrey.
The B.C. Corrections Branch issued the warning this week about Raymond Lee Caissie, 42.
Caissie pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault with a weapon, one count of robbery and one count of unlawful confinement in relation to the incident that occurred on July 21, 1991.
On that day, he entered Trethewey House – the home of the MSA Museum Society – on Ware Street, and came across a lone 21-year-old female student who was working there for the summer.
He threatened her with a knife, forced her to strip, and then twice sexually assaulted her.
Caissie then drove with the woman until they came to the south end of Gladwin Road, where he took her to a secluded wooded area on the American side of the border.
He forced her to perform a sex act, tied her to a tree, and left.
Two days later, he grabbed a purse from another woman before being picked up by police. He was convicted of robbery for that incident.
His criminal history also includes theft, break and enter, and possession of stolen property.
Caissie was released from prison after completing his full sentence.
He is currently on bail supervision, and is considered by Corrections as a high-risk offender who has a varied pattern of crime, having offended violently and sexually in an opportunistic and impulsive manner.
Surrey Mayor Diane Watts is outraged that another high-risk sex offender has been located in that city.
"At the end of the day, the safety of the public has to come first and foremost," she said.
She notes that if Caissie served 22 years and is still deemed a high risk, he shouldn't be released.
"Why has he been released?" Watts asked. "It makes no sense."
Caissie is 5'11" and weighs 165 pounds. He is Caucasian with short brown hair and blue eyes.
He is subject to close monitoring by police and has several conditions, including: keeping the peace, staying in B.C., having no contact with his victims, not possessing a knife except for eating, and not possessing a weapon or tools for restraint, including duct tape or wire.
If any member of the public sees Caissie in violation of these orders, they are asked to call the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502.
– with files from Kevin Diakiw, Black Press