Man arrested for groping store employee found not criminally responsible

KELOWNA – A 61-year-old man arrested for groping a female clerk at a downtown clothing store earlier this year won’t face any jail time as a judge ruled him not criminally responsible because of a mental disorder.

Brian Edmund Spence was charged with two counts of sexual assault stemming from an incident which happened March 7 at a store on the 400 block of Bernard Avenue, according to a Global Okanagan report.

According to an RCMP release at the time of his arrest, Spencer entered the store and started a conversation with a female staff member.

“The man then rubbed against the young woman and grabbed her from behind. The staff member yelled at the man who left the store, before returning briefly," Const. Kris Clark said. The man was arrested at his residence. 

Police also identified at least two other instances with similar circumstances which happened in Rutland and asked the public for information regarding other victims. 

To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infonews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.