Image Credit: ADOBE STOCK
February 16, 2022 - 7:30 AM
CONTENT ADVISORY
A 44-year-old Vernon man caught trying to lure a 14-year-old boy online during a sting operation by a vigilante group will spend six months behind bars.
Appearing at the Vernon courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 15, David Gilbert Warnock asked if he could call his wife, before being handcuffed and led out of the courtroom following the judge's decision.
The case dates back to September 2020 when Warnock spent six hours chatting to what he thought was a 14-year-old boy using the popular gay dating app Grindr.
Warnock had said he wanted to perform oral sex on the boy and arranged to meet.
READ MORE: Vernon man caught luring 14-year-old boy in vigilante sting waiting to see if he'll do jail time
However, Warnock wasn't chatting to a 14-year-old boy, he was messaging with an individual who'd set up a short-lived vigilante group on Facebook called Goofbusters.
Warnock later arrived at a fast-food restaurant in Vernon to meet the 14-year-old but fled when confronted by the individual.
Heavily intoxicated, Warnock turned up at a police station a day or so afterwards and confessed.
Warnock had said he was "willfully blind" to the circumstances.
The court heard how Warnock was married and had a nine-year-old daughter. Unbeknownst to his wife, Warnock was bisexual and had been meeting men on Grindr.
He'd also been drinking very heavily every day at the time.
The court heard how following the charges, Warnock had been fired from his job at a lumber yard where he'd worked for 15 years.
The Ministry of Children and Family Development had become involved although now had closed its case.
A psychiatric report had stated that Warnock was not a pedophile and was at the lowest range to re-offend.
The court heard how Warnock had turned his life around, found a new job, and dramatically cut down on his drinking. He also planned to move back in with his wife.
The Crown had argued for six months jail, while the defence a sentence of house arrest.
B.C. Provincial Court Judge Roy Dickey said that while he accepted that Warnock was remorseful for his actions a sentence of house arrest was not suitable.
Ultimately, Warnock was sentenced to six months jail, followed by 18 months probation. He will be placed on the sex offenders registry for 10 years and has restrictions regarding his internet use.
A submission from the Crown that Warnock should be banned from going near a public park, was struck down by the judge.
— This story was updated at 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, to remove the name of the individual that set up the Goofbusters sting.
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