The Strathcona Standard

2026-01-22: A Surrey man who travelled to Campbell River to commit several sex offences with a youth has received five years in jail.

“This incident is a stark reminder of the dangers that lurk in the online world,” said Const. Maury Tyre with the Campbell River RCMP in a statement.   “It is so very important for guardians to not just educate, but to supervise the online world in which our youth spend much of their time. Even with internal safeguards of many social media sites, they are still a major meeting place for those who wish to traffic and take advantage of young people.”

In April 2024, 33-year-old Dillon Caleb Partanen travelled to Campbell River to meet with a youth he had been communicating with since 2023. Police were alerted to the offences the day they happened, and the man was subsequently arrested in Campbell River. He was released with conditions including a ban from being in Campbell River while waiting for his court date. 

On January 13, 2026, Partanen pleaded guilty to Sexual Interference, Possession of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material, and Failing to Comply with a Probation Order. He was sentenced to 5 years in jail. As part of his sentence, Partanen was also ordered to provide his DNA and register with the National Sex Offender Registry which he will remain on for his lifetime.