More jail for Kelowna man caught with $300,000 semi-truck full of lumber

A prolific Kelowna thief, whose booty included a safe and a semi-truck full of lumber worth $300,000, will spend another nine months behind bars.

Kevin Andrew Brophy made headlines in late 2023, when Kelowna RCMP announced it had caught up with the long-time thief and uncovered $500,000 of stolen goods.

He faced 18 charges over the thefts and police sent out pictures of the swag that Brophy had amassed.

On May 23, the 45-year-old appeared at the Kelowna courthouse to hear his fate.

Brophy’s crime spree started in the late summer of 2023 and continued into the fall. At the time, he had been using crack cocaine constantly for two or three weeks, according to a May 23 BC Supreme Court decision.

“He became paranoid, hopeless, and desperate,” the court decision read.

In November 2023, police arrested him for trying to break into a secure compound in Kelowna.

He was sent to a treatment facility, but last summer was released on bail and relapsed.

“Mr. Brophy became acutely intoxicated with stimulants and was paranoid that his life was in danger,” the decision read.

In November 2024, he was caught driving erratically and pulled over and arrested. He’d been in jail since.

The decision said during his crime spree, Brophy stole a semi-truck with a trailer containing lumber, valued at approximately $300,000. Police recovered the vehicle and the lumber.

Somewhere in the North Okanagan he also stole a trailer filled with tools and a generator, thought to be worth $20,000, which wasn’t recovered.

No precise details are given, but Brophy stole a safe from somewhere in Kelowna and managed to get it open. He pocketed $2,500 cash from the safe and some cheques.

He pleaded guilty to being in possession of a stolen vehicle in Penticton, as well as to a break-in in Kelowna and having a grinder.

While his crime spree was lengthy and saw Brophy swiping valuable stuff, his defence lawyer asked for a sentence of house arrest.

However, the Justice dismissed the suggestion.

The Crown wanted three years in jail.

The decision said Brophy’s crime spree was directly related to his substance use.

“He agreed that his cocaine use became a problem for him, impacting his relationships, employment, physical and mental health, and his freedom due to his involvement with the criminal justice system,” the Justice said.

He has been in a relationship for a decade and has a seven-year-old son and two stepchildren.

His partner says he is “amazing” when he is sober, and he’s “intelligent, kind, funny, reliable, and helpful.” She will have him back, but this is his last chance.

The decision said Brophy has ADHD and suffers from “paralyzing anxiety,” he’s also suffered numerous head traumas throughout his life.

Over the years, he’s been in and out of rehab multiple times and has remained sober for years at a time.

However, when relapsing he goes on a crime spree, breaking into multiple properties, before being caught and sent back to jail. It’s a pattern that dates back more than 15 years.

The decision said Brophy gave a “heartfelt apology” and expressed his embarrassment and shame for what he had done.

“I accept that he is deeply remorseful for his actions and recognizes the need to change his life and totally abstain from any drug use,” the Justice said.

Along with three years jail, Crown prosecutors argued Brophy should be banned from going within 50 kilometres of Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton and Lake Country.

However, the Justice dismissed the idea, but did ban him from going to the individual places which he’d robbed.

Ultimately, Justice Forth sentenced Brophy to nine months jail, taking into account credit for time already served behind bars.

“I accept that Mr. Brophy is truly remorseful for his actions and understands how his actions have impacted those around him. I have also not lost sight of the significant impact Mr. Brophy’s incarceration has had, and will continue to have, on his family,” the Justice said. “When Mr. Brophy is sober, he is a responsible, loving, and energetic father. A substance use addiction is a medical condition. I accept that when an individual is in the throes of it they have difficulty controlling their actions.”