A man with ties to the Peace Region has agreed to plea deal involving charges of internet luring and invitation to sexual touching, involving a person under the age of 16.
Zachery Hawk Burns King will not be going to prison. Instead, Crown Prosecutors have agreed to a deal that sees King receive 3 years probation.
The Crown alleged the incident occurred from July 23 to October 30, 2023, in the Montney area. A judge issued a publication ban to protect the name of the victim.
In a Fort St. John court room Tuesday, King pled guilty to a lesser charge of making harassing communication. As part of the plea deal, the Crown prosecutor then stayed the charge of invitation to sexual touching involving a person under the age of 16.
King was then sentenced to 3 years probation and the judge imposed a conditional discharge.
The BC Prosecution Service said, “In all prosecutions before the court, Crown Counsel and defence counsel have a duty to engage in plea resolution discussions.”
The Prosecution Service added that early resolutions reduce trauma and inconvenience to victims and witnesses and result in a more efficient and timely justice system.
According to the Crown, the court imposed a conditional discharge after finding it would be in the accused’s best interest and not be contrary to the public interest to do so.