Convicted child sex offender Darrell Ackman, a.k.a MrJetzTV, returning to community under new conditions

CBC

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A convicted Winnipeg child sex offender who ran a prostitution ring that exploited underage girls will be allowed to return to the community with new release conditions, after his parole suspension was cancelled earlier this month.
Darrell Erwin Ackman, who posted videos of young women and teenage girls to YouTube using the online moniker MrJetzTV, targeted vulnerable girls by gaining their trust and exploiting them in the sex trade for his financial gain between 2011 and 2012.
Ackman, now 55, was found guilty in 2016 of multiple offences, including sexual assault, publishing or having possession of child pornography and living on the avails of prostitution of a person under 18.
He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, minus time served.
Ackman was released from Stony Mountain Institution, just north of Winnipeg last September, but he was taken back into custody in March after he violated release conditions, according to an Aug. 6 written decision by the Parole Board of Canada.
At the time of his release, police said Ackman was considered a risk to reoffend, warning that adolescent girls could be at risk
In its latest decision, the parole board voted in favour of releasing him again, concluding he "will not present an undue risk to society if released on statutory release."
Breached conditions
Following his release last year, Ackman was re-arrested for refusing to engage in his treatment plan — a key condition of his release — and sent to a community correctional centre, the decision says.
In February 2025, Ackman had also gone to a public park where children could be present — another breach of his release conditions, according to the decision.
Criminal charges related to that breach were stayed last month, after Ackman said he had gone to the park to film a music video, according to the parole board's decision.
Ackman's case management team said his behaviour began to deteriorate after his release last fall, when his "primary focus on becoming famous became a priority over abiding by the expectations of [his] release," the decision said.
WATCH | A 2016 report on Ackman's conviction:
A man found guilty of running a prostitution ring with underage girls and making child pornography has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, minus the time he has already served behind bars.
The document states Ackman was required to find or maintain employment as part of his release, but he became disengaged in the process and started to focus on building a music career.
"Ackman's pursuit of fame negatively impacted his decision making and consequential thinking. Consequently, his behaviour deteriorated to the point where he was no longer manageable in the community," the decision said.
'Well behaved' since starting medication
After he returned to custody in March, corrections officials noted an "ongoing deterioration" of Ackman's behaviour, as he showed "limited understanding of [his] problematic behaviours," the decision said.
He made repeated requests for calls to local businesses to promote his music career and music videos on YouTube, according to the parole board document. Some of the request forms included lyrics that made negative comments about Ackman's parole officer.
While Ackman wasn't required to stay away from drugs and alcohol as part of his release conditions, the community correctional centre forbade them. His file showed he consistently broke the facility's rules, according to the decision.
The document said Ackman told officials he drank because he felt it would help his singing ability, after hearing that "Celine Dion would drink a glass of wine to ensure a good performance."
The parole board decision states that Ackman was put on medication for a diagnosed mental health condition in March. The specific condition was redacted from the report.
Reports from Ackman's parole officer said his behaviour has stabilized since going on medication, the decision said. The facility's psychologist described Ackman as "well behaved and co-operative and calm," according to the document.
In a July 19 written submission, Ackman apologized for his behaviour and shared an updated release plan with the parole board.
Two weeks ago, the board cancelled his suspension.
Under his new release conditions, Ackman must take his medication as prescribed and abstain from purchasing, consuming or possessing drugs and alcohol.
His previous release conditions, which are still in effect, require him to follow his treatment plan, stay away from areas where children may be present, and have no contact with children or past victims, among other restrictions.