No new restrictions on B.C. sex offender who went on run: parole board

The Vancouver Police Department shared a photo of 58-year-old Randall Hopley late Saturday evening, with the hope that "someone will recognize him and call 911." (VPD)

High-risk B.C. sex offender Randall Hopley, who went on the run for 10 days in November, will still be allowed overnight community leave with the approval of his parole officer, after the parole board decided not to impose new restrictions.

Premier David Eby says he “can't fathom” the ruling and it's not acceptable that Hopley, who abducted a three-year-old boy in 2011, has been given the same conditions for his long-term supervision order.

However a spokesman for the premier's office says there's “no indication” that Hopley has been released on bail, as he faces new charges related to breaches of those conditions.

The parole board says in its decision issued on Friday that Hopley repeatedly breached conditions of a long-term supervision order before walking away from a halfway house in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside on Nov. 4.

It says his release under the supervision order had been suspended four times since 2019 for breaches of conditions.

But the parole board says there's no evidence the breaches were related to his authorization for overnight leave, and no changes were needed to the supervision order.

Eby, speaking at an unrelated event in Vancouver on Wednesday, says he'll be reaching out to federal authorities about the system that allowed Hopley to be repeatedly released into the community “to put kids at risk.”

“It's not acceptable. I'll be reaching out to federal counterparts about this, so they can address this,” he said.

The board's decision, which was made public on Wednesday, came after the Correctional Service of Canada recommended that Hopley be stripped of leave privileges.

Hopley received a 10-year supervision order after serving a six-year prison term for abducting the three-year-old boy in southeastern B.C.

He went on the run after failing to show up in court in November to face charges of breaching the supervision order, and the parole board cites police saying he faces additional charges for absconding.

Vancouver Sgt. Steve Addison told media after his arrest that police would recommend to Crown counsel that Hopley be denied bail and remain in custody.

The parole board did not immediately respond when asked if Hopley was still in custody.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 7, 2024.