British Columbia

Qualicum Beach, B.C., man faces 70 charges related to indecent, threatening phone calls

Charges against the 33-year-old man include extortion, criminal harassment and uttering threats.

Majority of incidents occurred in Lower Mainland

RCMP say the calls occurred between November 2017 and April 2018. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)

A 33-year-old Qualicum Beach man named Joel Perry is facing 70 charges related to a series of "threatening, harassing, and indecent" phone and video calls, according to a release from Surrey RCMP.

RCMP say the calls occurred between November 2017 and April 2018, and that while Perry targeted women throughout the province, the majority of incidents occurred in the Lower Mainland.

Perry was first arrested on May 16 following what RCMP officers described as a "complex and technical investigation."

He was released without charges at that time and a comprehensive report to Crown Counsel was submitted to the B.C. Prosecution Service for assessment. 

On July 17, B.C. Prosecution Services approved a total of 70 Criminal Code offences against Perry, including 31 counts of harassing and indecent phone calls, 18 counts of criminal harassment, 13 counts of uttering threats, and eight counts of extortion.

Perry's next court appearance is scheduled for July 26.

"These incidents were very disturbing for the victims, many of whom were traumatized and felt unsafe in their own homes," Staff Sgt. Kirk Duncan of the Surrey RCMP General Investigation Unit said in the release.

"As we move on to the next phase of the judicial process, we hope that the many victims find some closure."