Arsonist claims CIA made him crash into, set fire to Salmon Arm 7-Eleven

A man who crashed his car into a Salmon Arm 7-Eleven on August 24, 2018 and set it ablaze says drugs weren’t a factor.

Kenneth Robert Laforge appeared by video conference in Kamloops Supreme Court today, May 7. He has already undergone a psychiatric evaluation after the incident, and will receive another before his next court date.

“I would like to say, I seriously swear that it was the CIA or something that targeted me," Laforge said. "I wasn’t even on drugs when the incident happened.”

Laforge pleaded guilty to two of three counts against him, mischief under $5,000 and arson damaging property. Laforge did not make a plea regarding the other count, arson with relation to inhabited property. That count was explained by defence lawyer Glenn Verdurmen.

“This matter originally had the aspect of endangerment, I think endangerment of life,” Verdurmen said. “Laforge essentially drove his car into the 7/11 front window, so that it was partially in the store and he would eventually light the car, and subsequently the car burnt but there was a concerted and fairly obvious effort by Mr. Laforge to check or even make enquiries to make sure nobody was in the store.”

Verdurmen says the fire caused damage to the store, as well as a car belonging to one of the employees.

Laforge will return in court on June 8 at 2 p.m. to set a date for sentencing.

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