It was an appearance via closed circuit television for Michael Nadolnick,
The 41-year-old is charged in connection to a string of violent crimes last week including a kidnapping and sexual assault.
Nadolnick was out on statutory release when police arrested him and many want to know why Calgarians were not warned about his release.
"Anytime a violent offender is let loose, it's just like we relive everything. Here's another one, he's going to do it again," says Steffi Stehwien whose son was murdered.
Nadolnick's criminal record is lengthy. He's been convicted of sexual assault with a weapon, aggravated assault and he was serving six years in Bowden Institute when he was released in September.
Corrections Canada is responsible for assessing a prisoner's risk of offending when they are released. Their assessment is based on three criteria: is the person likely to cause death, or serious bodily harm to someone; likely to sexually assault a child; or commit a serious drug offence. Corrections Canada says Nadolnick did not fit into any of those three categories.
Calgary's police chief says he's always been concerned about the release of certain criminals into society but he believes that may be about to change. "We've got a justice minister who is really listening and looking at challenges we're facing of people like that being released into the community and she's taken this and she's working...to correct this problem," says Rick Hanson.
Police say while they could have issued a public warning about Nadolnick on their own, it would have been contradicting another agency.
Nadolnick did not have a lawyer for Wednesday's appearance so his case has been put over until December 3rd.
He is also expected to appear in court on Thursday for charges related to a bank robbery.
