Kevin Johnston.
Image Credit: Creephunters.com
December 20, 2016 - 3:25 PM
KELOWNA - A former deputy sheriff at the Kamloops Law Courts will begin pre-trial hearings in June 2017, after being charged with four sexual offences.
Kevin Johnston was charged in September with three counts of communicating with a person believed to be underage for the purpose of facilitating a sexual offence and one count of invitation to sexual touching.
The Criminal Justice Branch released a statement on the charges after Johnston allegedly appeared in a "Creep Hunters" video. Members of the vigilante group pose as an underage person online and engage in conversations with older individuals.
One of those members claimed earlier this year that they had posed as a 14-year-old girl on a Craigslist ad. The member said she had allegedly been contacted by Johnston and a relationship ensued.
According to court documents, Johnston is not in custody and he has a preliminary inquiry scheduled for June 5, 2017 in the Kelowna Law Courts. The alleged offences happened in Kelowna, while Johnston was still employed as a deputy sheriff.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
The Criminal Justice Branch originally said in its September statement that Johnston was no longer an employee with the B.C. Public Service. A special prosecutor has been appointed to the case, which the branch says is to "avoid any potential for real or perceived improper influence in the administration of criminal justice."
A preliminary inquiry is held to determine if the prosecution has enough evidence to go forward with trial.
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