A Surrey man has been sentenced to five years in jail for sexual offences involving a youth in Campbell River.

Thirty-three-year-old Dillon Caleb Partanen pleaded guilty on January 13th to Sexual Interference, Possession of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material, and Failing to Comply with a Probation Order.

The charges stem from an incident in 2024 in Campbell River. Court heard that Partanen began communicating with the youth sometime in 2023 using the social media platform Snapchat.

In April 2024, he travelled from Surrey to Campbell River, where the offences took place.

Police were alerted the same day, and Partanen was arrested in Campbell River.

He was later released under conditions while awaiting court, including an order not to return to Campbell River.

As part of his sentence, Partanen has been ordered to provide a DNA sample and will be registered on the National Sex Offender Registry for life.

The Campbell River RCMP say the case highlights the ongoing risks youth can face online and stress the importance of guardians actively supervising and monitoring online activity, even on platforms with built-in safeguards.