Riley Conley

Image Credit: FACEBOOK: Riley Conley

Acting on a tip from a member of the public, police organized a sting operation after they'd been told that a plan was in the works to kidnap, sexually assault, and torture a Vernon woman.

The informant told police he'd met a man online through the hook-up website Doublelist called John Ham and a violent and disturbing plan was in the works.

Police had details about what to wear and how to interact when John Ham arrived, but after several hours standing outside a gas station nobody had turned up, so police called off the operation.

Vernon North Okanagan RCMP took the threat seriously, but when they traced the IP address of the suspected kidnapper, they didn't find John Ham, they found 33-year-old Riley Conley, living in his parents' basement, and living his life online.

There was no kidnap plot, and no plan to physically harm anyone. The victim was completely unaware an old classmate had been saying disturbing things about her online.

Instead, there was an isolated 33-year-old who lived his life in front of a computer.

Conley told police it was a "ruse" and a "joke" and he had absolutely no intention of kidnapping anyone.

However, Tuesday, Nov. 5, Conley sat in a Vernon courtroom having been charged with counselling a kidnapping, criminal harassment, uttering threats and publishing obscene matter.

The court heard how Conley, under the pseudonym Jon Ham, had met an individual online on the hook-up website Doublelist. At one point the individual had become so concerned about what Conley was writing he contacted police fearing Conley was going to sexually assault someone.

Police investigated but found nothing.

Several months later the two connected again and Conley told the individual about a plan to kidnap an old high school friend of his. He sent the individual a photo of the woman and said he knew where she worked.

He chatted online about his violent sexual fantasies and said he'd lined someone up who was willing to buy a snuff film of what was going to take place.

Precise details weren't read out in court, but BC Supreme Court Justice Lindsay Lyster described it as "deeply disturbing."

The court heard how the victim had no idea that Conley was writing such things about her, and only learnt of it when police contacted her to see if she was OK.

Regardless that nothing took place, it hadn't stopped the emotional impact on her.

"She describes now being extremely uncomfortable around men, being anxious in public or walking or being home alone," Justice Lyster.

"She describes herself as sad and constantly scared," the justice said.

The court heard that because Conley had used a real person's name when writing about his violent sexual fantasies it became a criminal offence, had he not used her name, then he would likely never have been charged.

The crown stayed the other charges but Conley pleaded guilty to publishing obscene matter, his writing being the obscene material.

Defence lawyer Courtenay Simmons told the court Conley had grown up in the computer generation and made connections over the internet and by playing video games.

"Words that are written didn't hold the same weight as words that were said to someone's face," Simmons said.
"Mr. Conley insists that he never had any intent to act up his online sexual fantasies."

The court heard multiple times Conley never had any plan to follow through on what he had said.

"This is a common sentiment from those who spend a lot of time online, where a disconnect exists between their internet fantasy world and real life," Justice Lyster said. "The anonymity of the internet can allow people to feel more comfortable engaging in concerning online behaviours, such as viewing violent pornography or engaging in graphic sexual chats. It is the distance of the Internet and the apparent invisibility that people feel that contributes to their online inhibition."

However, Justice Lyster said what was written online has "real-world consequences."

The court heard how the 33-year-old lived in his parent's basement and was the main caregiver to his seven-year-old daughter. He'd had a stable childhood and worked various jobs throughout his life.

The court heard how Conley had isolated himself and been bypassed from mainstream society.

However, he had recently got back together with the mother of his child. The mother said he had never been sexually inappropriate with her.

A psychological report stated Conley didn't have a misogynistic attitude towards women.

His lawyer had said he was deeply remorseful for his actions.

The Justice described the case as "unusual" as the lawyers struggled to find any other cases with similar circumstances.

The court heard how the RCMP had made mistakes during his arrest and hadn't got a court order to obtain his IP address. These mistakes could have led to a Charter Challange which may have seen the case against dropped.

Ultimately, in a joint submission to the court lawyers asked for a conditional discharge and 24 months of probation. This means, that provided Conley doesn't breach his conditions he will not get a criminal record.

One of the conditions was not to use an pseudonym while online.

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