Man found not responsible in attempted kidnappings
A Fort St. James man was found to be not criminally responsible for two separate attempts to kidnap children, as well as one charge of assault and one charge of obstructing a peace officer on Tuesday.
Kenneth Jim Louis John, a 35-year old man with a previous criminal record, was arrested on Aug. 15. Police noticed several signs of impairment following his arrest, the court heard. Those signs included great difficulty in carrying on basic conversation, as well as indications that he was hallucinating. Prior to his arrest, John had been dealing with severe alcohol withdrawal, according to his lawyer Keith Jones. He had also suffered from mental illness, for which he had been self-medicating. The court concurred, finding John not criminally responsible for his actions due to a mental disorder.
The court heard from a crown prosecutor that John had accosted a young boy walking with his mother near the corner of Eighth Avenue and Gillett Street. He was heard to be saying that he was trying to help the child and that the child was in danger. John attempted to pick up the child and run off, but the child was successfully wrestled from his grasp by the child’s mother. The mother then called police.
Shortly afterwards, John wandered to Harwin elementary school near the corner of 12th Avenue and Harper Street. Several children in a daycare program were playing near the school grounds. John was noticed by the daycare owner, and he then began running towards children. He picked up one child before being confronted by the daycare owner. John let go of the child and ran off. He was later apprehended by police.
The prosecutor read a statement by John before the court, which indicated that he believed he was not fully aware of his actions at the time.
“I was trying to protect the kids,” John said in the statement.
John will be kept in custody for 45 days before appearing before a review board. He will also serve 60 additional days for breaches of probation related to separate offenses.