41-year-old Craig Allen Sims enters the Nanaimo courthouse on Friday, July 26, and was sentenced to six-months in jail followed by a year probation after being convicted of sending inappropriate messages to a pre-teen girl in 2008. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

jail time

Nanaimo man jailed after child luring conviction

Jul 26, 2024 | 1:36 PM

NANAIMO — A local man was jailed Friday after being convicted of sending inappropriate messages to a minor.

Craig Allen Sims, 41, will spend the next six months behind bars followed by a year of probation after being convicted of child luring, in relation to events which occurred between the end of 2007 and late 2009 when the complainant was between 12 and 13 years old.

The Crown wanted a minimum of a year in jail for Sims, while his defence wanted a non-custodial sentence to be served in the community.

In her sentencing ruling, Justice Catherine Wedge acknowledged the unusual nature of sentencing on a child luring charge, as in previous court cases a luring charge usually is coupled with other criminal violations.

Sims was found not guilty earlier this year of three sex-related offences.

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Citing previous court cases, she acknowledged regardless of Sims’ intent when he sent the messages, the resulting impact on the young victim is serious.

“Child luring involves the sexual relation of children, even when the only interaction with the child is online, the offender’s conduct still constitutes -quote- ‘a form of psychological sexual violence’.”

During the trial, Sims admitted he was attempting to lay the groundwork for a future relationship, with justice Wedge stating at the time, “albeit he stressed, not until she reached an age in which the relationship would have been appropriate.”

A powerful victim impact statement from the now-adult female victim, who came forward to police in 2020 to file a complaint against Sims, was presented in court during the trial.

Justice Wedge cited the mitigating factors of the case, including Sims acknowledging his actions during trial and interviews with investigators, having no prior criminal history, receiving support from his family, and being deemed a very low risk to re-offend during his pre-trial psychological evaluation.

Aggravating factors in this case included the young age of the victim, Sims abusing a position of trust and exploiting an existing relationship, and the frequency of the messages which lasted for about eight months.

Following his release from prison and completion of his probation, Sims will be required to follow a number of restrictions, including having no contact with the victim.

While Sims is not required to register as a sex offender, he will have to provide a DNA sample.

Sims remained still and showed little emotion when the sentence was read to him in court, and was led out in handcuffs by the bailiff.

Craig Sims lost his union job in Nanaimo following his initial charge, and now works in a minimum-wage position. (Twitter)

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