An ISIS recruiter has been released early from prison despite his parole board warning he remains an extremist who poses a threat to the public due to a soft-touch Canadian judicial rule.
Ashton Larmond, 35, was freed after serving just eleven year and three months of his 17-year sentence for terrorism offenses.
His early freedom was granted under Canada's 'statutory release' law, which determines that most offenders except lifers must be released after serving two-thirds of their sentence.
Larmond was first reported to the authorities in Ottawa in September 2013 by his own mother, who warned police her son sought to kill in the name of terrorism.
Police discovered around 267 videos containing extremist propaganda on his computer upon his arrest in 2015 after he converted to Islam between 2009 and 2011, Global News reported.
Larmond recruited his twin brother Carlos and the brothers were apprehended as they attempted to fly out of Canada to Syria.
His brother pleaded guilty to attempting to leave Canada to participate in the activities of a terrorist group and was sentenced to seven years in prison. Larmond pleaded guilty to encouraging others to engage in terrorist violence.
Ashton Larmond, 35, was released from prison after serving two-thirds of his 17 year sentence due to Canada's 'statutory release' law despite public safety concerns from the parole board
Joanne Blanchard, Chairperson of the Parole Board of Canada since June 2024
A third person, Suliman Mohamed, was arrested days after the twins and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in a terrorist activity, receiving a sentence of seven years, CBC reported.
While incarcerated, Larmond committed several assaults on other inmates, including punching one in the face and breaking his nose, according to Global News.
Larmond was also said to have threatened prison staff, according to the parole board. He was originally held in a provincial facility, but was transferred to a federal prison over 'radical ideologies,' the outlet reported.
The parole board maintained that Larmond was violent and a public safety risk and continued to hold his extremist views.
'While you have gained improved insight through program participation and counseling with the institutional imam, you continue to hold extremist views, which is problematic for the purposes of risk mitigation and public safety,' the board said.
The parole board also noted that Larmond was likely to reoffend within three years and said his 'reintegration potential' is low.
His release is conditional on monitoring of his phone and finances, as well as undergoing treatment and living in a community-based or psychiatric facility approved by the Correctional Service of Canada.
Larmond plans to undergo employment training while holding down a part-time job and has a goal of becoming a contractor.
Larmond was eventually arrested in 2015 as his twin brother Carlos, who Larmond had recruited, as they were attempting to fly out of Canada to Syria
Canada's 'statutory release' law states most offenders except lifers must be released after serving two-thirds of their sentence (File photo)
He also expressed interest in volunteering and fundraising for organizations that 'focus on people of the Muslim faith who are suffering,' Global News reported.
The Canadian government insists statutory parole 'does not end an offender's sentence' but rather counts as a different form of punishment.
'Instead, offenders serve what is left of their sentence in the community. They must report regularly to a Correctional Service of Canada Parole Officer and follow conditions,' the Canadian government website states.
'On statutory release, offenders have some time under supervision in the community before their sentence ends to help them return to society as law-abiding citizens. Offenders serving life sentences do not get statutory release.'
The Parole Board of Canada is only able to overrule statutory parole if it believes the offender is likely to commit an offense causing death or serious harm, sexual violence involving a child or a serious drug offense before the end of their sentence.
The Daily Mail has contacted the Parole Board of Canada and the Canadian government for comment.