Photo Courtesy Trevor Hewitt, Smithers Interior News

By Greg Fry

Former mayor in court

Luke Strimbold pleads guilty to four sex assault charges

May 6, 2019 | 2:23 PM

SMITHERS — Once a rising star on the political scene as one of BC’s youngest mayors, former Burns Lake mayor Luke Strimbold’s fall from grace is now complete, having pleaded guilty to multiple sex assault charges today (May 6) in B.C. Supreme Court in Smithers.

According to the Smithers Interior News, Strimbold has pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault against four individuals.

He had faced 29 charges including sexual assault, sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching involving boys under the age of 16, stemming from alleged incidents from May 2009 to July 2017.

In a statement, Strimbold’s lawyer Stan Tessmer says Strimbold “chose not to go to trial so everyone involved can begin the healing process and that the four individuals and the community can start to move forward.”

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A pre-sentence report and psychological evaluation has been ordered and a tentative sentencing date for Strimbold has been set for September 23.