Man convicted of preying on elderly, sick Albertans denied parole

A man behind bars for preying on elderly and sick people in Calgary and Edmonton won’t be back in the community anytime soon.

Bryan Andrew Casavant recently applied for day parole on Sep. 6 and the Parole Board of Canada said no.

Casavant has a criminal record dating back to the 1980s and was convicted in 2006 for numerous crimes of befriending and then robbing vulnerable people. Among his victims were the elderly, physically disabled people and cancer patients.

He is now serving a sentence of more than 23 years for multiple crimes across western Canada, including some in Calgary that include break-and-enter and extortion.

The last time Casavant was granted day parole, about 16 years ago, it was revoked when days after arriving at a Calgary halfway house, he vanished. By the time he was caught five months later, he had allegedly claimed more victims, including elderly people he duped in ATM frauds.

The parole board’s latest decision notes the convicted criminal has done some work behind bars to better himself and manage his risks when he is back in the community, but also noted concerns that he is continuing to engage in manipulation and deception to make it appear he is making progress.

“The Board views your recent engagement with mental health cautiously given your pattern of deceit, manipulation and dishonesty and for the likelihood it is a continuation of behaviour closely connected to your crime cycle,” reads the decision.

Casavant is eligible to apply for day parole again in a year. His statutory release date is in 2027, at which time the parole board can impose conditions to lower his chances of reoffending.