Former Kamloops sheriff gets house arrest for breach of trust

KELOWNA — A former deputy sheriff in Kamloops has been given a one-year conditional sentence order, which will include four months of house arrest.

Defence lawyer Jeremy Jensen says the sentence for Kevin Johnston came down this morning, and added there are several exceptions to Johnston’s house arrest. Johnston must follow the conditions of his order for the full year to avoid jail time.

Last month, Johnston pleaded guilty to breach of trust, more than two years after being caught up in a “Creep Hunters” investigation. The Kelowna-based group posed as underage children in order to expose potential predators.

Johnston was originally charged with more serious offences including telecommunication to lure a child under 16 years old, making sexually explicit material available to a person under 16 years old, and arrange/agree on a sexual offence against a child. He was a deputy sheriff in Kamloops at the time of the offence.