Kamloops man pleads guilty to luring 13-year-old girl over social media

In September of last year, police received information that McGowan had paid a young girl he met on an app called “Whisper” for nude photographs, Caputo said.

Whisper is a form of anonymous social media, where users can post text superimposed over still photographs or videos anonymously, and people can respond.

The victim cannot be identified due to a court-ordered publication ban.

McGowan was drinking heavily and using cocaine for five days during the time of the offence, and Caputo said McGowan couldn’t remember much of anything, including the incident.

McGowan had responded to a Whisper post the girl made, Caputo said, and he’d asked her for nudes. She said no, also disclosing that she was 13 years old.

Caputo said McGowan then asked if she wanted money in exchange for the photographs, and the girl responded that she just wanted fast food. He ordered some to her house.

McGowan also left a sweatshirt with $100 in cash tucked inside of it at a park near her house, Caputo said, and told her she could come over to his place.

At one point, Caputo said, McGowan told the girl he had masturbated to her pictures.

It’s not clear how police discovered the offence, but they arrested McGowan shortly after. They seized the packaging from the food order he sent to the girl, which had a receipt showing his name and phone number.

Court heard McGowan lives with his common-law spouse and between the two they have five children. His spouse sat beside him in the courtroom today.

“This type of behaviour needs to be deterred,” Caputo said of the offence.

Crown recommended a sentence of 12 to 18 months, while defence lawyer Don Campbell asked for the minimum sentence of six months. Either of these prison sentences would include a probation order afterward.

Caputo said if this case had gone to trial, Crown would have sought double that sentence.

Campbell said McGowan has made significant steps toward correcting his behaviour, including maintaining sobriety since his arrest, and immediately sought counselling.

“He is deeply remorseful and ashamed of what he had done,” Campbell said.

Campbell said McGowan also started drinking more heavily and using cocaine when his first marriage collapsed.

McGowan also spoke to Kamloops Provincial Court Judge Roy Dickey saying he was “ashamed and embarrassed” of the offence.

Dickey has reserved his sentencing decision, and a date to deliver the decision will be set next week.

by Ashley Legassic

Kamloops man pleads guilty to luring 13-year-old girl over social media

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