Man admits trying to lure boys with guns

Promise of recreational shooting meant to get kids to secluded area

A man admitted Tuesday he used guns and the promise of recreational shooting in the river valley in his failed attempts to lure boys from the Stanley A. Milner Library and a Riverdale park.

Curtis Allan Poburan, 47, first attempted to entice a 10-year-old boy at the Stanley A. Milner Library in May 2014.

“The accused unzipped his hoodie, showed the butt of his gun to (the boy) and asked him if he wanted to go shooting in the river valley,” Crown prosecutor Kelly Kwok told court.

The boy declined the invitation and walked away. Later, Poburan waited outside the library for the boy to leave, then followed him for five blocks. The terrified boy ran home.

The boy’s mother called police, but Poburan was gone when they arrived at the scene. The boy told investigators he’d first been approached by Poburan at the library the day before.

A week later, Stanley A. Milner staff recognized Poburan sitting at a library computer and called police. Officers found a replica air pistol tucked in Poburan’s pants. He told them he carried it for “protection.”

On June 25, 2014, Poburan was released on bail under several conditions, including that he not possess any weapons. A week later, he approached two 10-yearold boys at a Riverdale park with a backpack with two BB guns inside.

“Do you like shooting?” Poburan asked the boys as they walked away from him. The boys felt uncomfortable with Poburan and left the park. He attempted to follow them, but the boys escaped on their skateboards.

Hours later, the same boys spotted Poburan in the park again. They reported him to an adult in the park who then gathered all the children in the Riverdale community hall as Poburan peered through the hall’s windows and tried to get inside through a locked door.

Police arrived shortly after and arrested Poburan once more. In addition to the pair of BB guns, he was carrying two knives.

During a police interview, Poburan “admitted that his goal was to take the boys to a secluded area for five to 10 minutes to shoot guns, as he admitted he gets aroused by this. He told police that if the boys were willing, he would enter into a sexual encounter with them,” according to an agreed statement of facts.

Poburan pleaded guilty to numerous charges, including two counts of enticement of a child under the age of 14. He will now undergo a psychiatric assessment before he is sentenced in November. He is currently in custody. rcormier@edmontonjournal.com twitter.com/el_cormier