Photo Courtesy Trevor Hewitt, Smithers Interior News
Luke Strimbold

Petition calls for appeal of former Burns Lake mayor’s sentence

Dec 8, 2019 | 12:28 PM

BURNS LAKE – A petition is calling on B.C. Attorney General David Eby to appeal the recent sentence of former Burns Lake mayor Luke Strimbold.

In May, Strimbold pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault against boys under the age of 16. Those counts were among 29 charges laid against Strimbold in 2018.

Last week, Strimbold received a sentence of two years less a day in jail.

Glenn LaLiberte is the organizer behind the petition, arguing that the sentence is too light.

“Strimbold’s victims will live with this traumatic event for the rest of their lives,” the petition says. “What is the message our justice system is sending to others that harm innocent children? This was a deliberate act carried out over many years and yet Strimbold will serve less time than he did victimizing children.”

Nearly 2,000 people had signed the petition as of 12:00 p.m. on Dec. 8.