Johnson Bentley Memorial Aquatic Centre.
Image Credit: Google Streetview
February 05, 2018 - 4:40 PM
KELOWNA – A Kelowna man who admits he exposed himself to children in a public changing room early last year has been sentenced to time served.
Joseph Drew Perkins, 35, pleaded guilty to exposing himself to children last June, but Judge Ellen Burdett adjourned until today, Feb. 5, to give time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.
He didn’t show up for the appointment with the psychologist and Burdett said it wasn’t appropriate to adjourn any longer.
Perkins was sentenced to six months but had been in custody 243 days so with enhanced pre-trial custody credit he will be released tomorrow.
Crown lawyer Mallory Tredennick said during sentencing submissions Perkins was wearing only a T-shirt in the change room of Johnson Bentley Aquatic Centre around 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25, 2017.
A father and his three young children complained to staff that a man was “touching himself” while standing in a doorway of the change room.
A witness said he was “clearly aroused and staring at his infant son.”
Police arrested Perkins with a bag containing children’s books, a marijuana bong, makeup and garbage he had put in a locker.
Perkins has a criminal record in B.C. that includes drug and traffic offences as well as a 2003 conviction for charges of committing indecent acts.
In addition to the time he has served, he will be on probation three years, during which time he cannot attend parks, playgrounds, public pools, schools, daycares or other places children are likely to be.
“This was a very disturbing event for the people that were involved – a family with young children,” Burdett said. “This is an escalation from the prior offences.”
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