Lethbridge man charged with breaching release conditions tied to child sexual abuse case

Lethbridge Police say a 36-year-old man has been charged after officers allegedly found him in contact with a youth while bound by court-ordered release conditions connected to previous child sexual abuse charges.

According to a Lethbridge Police Service release, officers responded May 6 to a report of a vulnerable 15-year-old girl getting into a vehicle with an adult male in the parking lot of a northside swimming pool. Police conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as a man prohibited from having contact with anyone under 16 years old.

Police said the accused was also subject to conditions barring him from attending locations including schools, playgrounds, swimming pools, youth shelters and public parks. The restrictions were imposed following his release from custody in separate 2025 cases involving charges of child sexual assault and possessing and accessing child pornography.

David Alejandro Hernandez, 36, of Lethbridge, has been charged with two counts of breaching release conditions. The allegations have not been tested in court.

Hernandez remained in custody as of Friday awaiting a judicial interim release hearing, commonly referred to as a bail hearing. Police have not released additional information about the youth involved.

Release conditions are court-ordered measures intended to reduce risk to public safety while criminal charges are before the courts.

Hernandez is expected to appear before a justice for a bail hearing, where the court will determine whether he remains in custody pending further proceedings.