Randal Hopley, the man who abducted a three-year-old boy from his Sparwood home in 2011 is appealing his prison sentence. On Oct. 27, his lawyer, Ken Beatch argued that Hopley's sentence should be reduced by more than three year's for time served.
By reducing his sentence, the Crown contended, it would diminish the purpose of keeping him in jail, which is keeping the public safe. At his sentencing hearing a forensic psychiatrist stated that Hopley is a "high risk" to reoffend if he is released.
Hopley was sentenced to seven years for kidnapping Kienan Hebert from his bedroom in his home in Sparwood. The RCMP and community searched for Kienan for four days before his abductor arbitrarily returned the child safely to the family home undetected.
Hopley was apprehended at a later date by an RCMP K-9 unit in a gravel pit in Alberta three kilometres east of the B.C. border.
Hopley has a history of sexually abusing children and has been declared a long-term offender although Kienan was apparently not assaulted during his four days with Hopley.
With credit for time already served, he still faces more than four years behind bars after being sentenced to six years and two months for the abduction, with an additional year for multiple break-ins.
Hopley was also sentenced to 10 years of mandatory supervision after his release.
A decision has not yet been made by the three appellant judges regarding the appeal.