A B.C. man with a history of "offences of a sexual nature against children” had a second warrant issued for his arrest Nov. 6 when he failed to attend court for trial.
Randall Hopley, 58, didn't return to his halfway house Nov. 4, the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) said.
He was last seen at 3 p.m. that day.
"Hopley has a history of sexual assault, assault, and property crime convictions," the VPD said in a new release. "He has committed three offences of a sexual nature against children in the past."
In 2011, Hopley abducted a three-year-old boy for several days before returning him. He served the full term of his sentence and was released a few years ago, but remained under long-term supervision orders.
Earlier in 2023, he was jailed on charges of breaching those orders.
Hopley was due before Vancouver Provincial Court Judge Ellen Gordon Nov. 6 for trial on two counts of breaching a long-term supervision order.
However, he failed to appear and Gordon issued a warrant.
Crown prosecutor Jacinta Lawton told Gordon that Hopley was also the subject of a Canada-wide warrant.
The VPD said, "Hopley had been living in the Downtown Eastside and was supposed to be heading to a thrift shop in the Mount Pleasant area when he disappeared."
Lawton said Hopley had allegedly cut off his electronic monitoring ankle bracelet.
Gordon said that was a more deliberate action than not showing up for court because one is scared.
Lawton said five witnesses were ready to go for the trial.
But, with Hopley’s absence, those witnesses departed and the case adjourned to Nov. 7 in case Hopley is apprehended.
Police state Hopley was last seen wearing a black coat, black pants, and a black hat. He's described as 5'9" and 176 lbs. He has brown hair and hazel-coloured eyes.
The VPD is asking anyone who sees Hopley to call 911 immediately.
With files from Brendan Kergin and the Canadian Press
