No record for torture plans

A Vernon man who planned online the kidnapping, sexual assault and torture of a woman he knew in real life will have no criminal record once his probation is complete.

Riley Conley, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of make, print, publish, distribute or circulate obscene material in B.C. Supreme Court on Tuesday.

BC Supreme Court Justice Lindsay Lyster called the circumstances of the case both unusual and deeply disturbing.

Court heard Conley was using a fake online name and messaging with another man who had responded to an ad on DoubleList, a dating site described in court as a site for people with atypical sexual fantasies.

The pair moved their conversation to email, and the second man reported Conley to police for what he believed to be a “violent sexual assault” Conley had described. Police responded to the area the assault had or was meant to take place, but found nothing.

Despite police advice otherwise, the second man continued to message with Conley, and in June 2022 the pair discussed the “planned kidnapping, sexual assault and torture” of a woman Conley knew in real life.

The woman cannot be named under a routine publication ban. Conley and the second man were using her real name, real place of employment and a real picture of her from Facebook while formulating their plans.

Conley told the man he had a person willing to buy a "snuff film" of the planned sexual violence — a pornographic film of actual murder.

This was also reported to police and officers contacted the victim to ensure her safety. Police conducted an undercover sting operation and attended the site of the planned attack, but no one showed up.

Police then tracked Conley down to where he was living with his parents and young daughter and arrested him. He admitted to being the person behind the messages and described them as a ruse and a joke.

“In both the pre-sentence report and the forensic assessment, Mr. Conley is reported as having indicated that he never intended to act out the violent sexual fantasies,” said Lyster in court. “That is scant comfort to [the victim], the real person whom he discussed kidnapping, sexually assaulting and torturing.”

Court heard Conley struggled with feeling shy around women and sought increasingly extreme and novel pornography, but he never planned to act out the violent fantasy in real life.

“He's clearly an individual who… has isolated himself and, I daresay, has been bypassed by mainstream society,” said Lyster. “He lives in a world that is detached from the realities of modern society. He is an individual who clearly needs some assistance.”

Ultimately, Lyster agreed to a joint submission for a 24-month conditional discharge.

Conley will remain out of jail and while he’s been found guilty the charge will not go on his record if he abides by probation conditions.

Some conditions include, avoiding contact with the victim and man he planned the attack with, attend counselling as required by a probation officer, and conducting 40 hours of community service by Dec 31, 2025. Conley also cannot access any social media sites, social networks, or chat rooms unless his first and last name is plainly within the username or profile of the account.

In her ruling, Lyster took into account that Conley was at average risk to reoffend, but he had positive family supports, an apparent recognition that regular use of pornography is problematic for him, and a motivation to be a good father to his young daughter.