By Ashley Legassic

Former Kamloops sheriff pleads guilty to breach of trust

Oct 22, 2018 | 4:19 PM

KELOWNA — A former deputy sheriff in Kamloops has pleaded guilty to breach of trust after inappropriate messages he thought he was sending to an underage girl.

Kevin Johnston appeared in Kelowna Provincial Court today, Oct. 22, where he pleaded guilty to one count of breach of trust by a public officer. Communications counsel for the BC Prosecution Service, Alisia Adams, says sentencing submissions were given by Crown and defence lawyers today, but the judge overseeing the case has reserved their decision until Nov. 6.

Adams says both lawyers are asking for a conditional sentence order for Johnston. An order of that kind usually includes a period of house arrest.

Johnston was originally facing charges of 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. The charges came after a sting produced by the Kelowna Creep Hunters group, which imitated underage people online to expose potential predators.

Johnston was still a sheriff at the time of the offence, which led to Crown appointing a special prosecutor to take on the case. In late August of 2016, the Creep Hunters group posted photos and text messages allegedly sent by Johnston to its website.

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The organization claimed at the time that Johnston believed he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl.