By Dori Modney/ Lethbridge News Now

Parole Board determines Sparwood child abductor still a risk

Nov 27, 2017 | 1:48 PM

 A man convicted of kidnapping a three-year-old boy from his Sparwood home in the fall of 2011will remain behind bars.

A federal parole board recently determined 52-year-old Randall Hopley is likely to commit sexual offences against a child if released from prison.

The decision says Hopley has not participated in rehabilitation programming and has declined to participate in psychological assessments.

The board stated there is no indication Hopley has reduced his risk to the community and recommended he complete a sex offender program and demonstrate insight into his crimes before his case is reviewed again next year.

Hopley abducted three-year-old Kienan Hebert from his bedroom while he was sleeping, on September 6, 2011. Police issued an Amber Alert for the little boy and his parents made a public plea for the child’s safe return.

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Dozens of volunteers joined emergency personnel on a massive hunt but, Kienan was mysteriously returned to the family home, physically unharmed, in the early morning hours of September 11.

On September 13, Hopley was located by police dogs at a gravel pit in the Crowsnest Pass.  At the time of his arrest, he was also facing charges in Pincher Creek court on four counts of housebreaking and possession of stolen property, in relation to incidents earlier in the year.

A psychiatric assessment of Hopley was performed, but is protected by a publication ban.

Hopley was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of abducting the child, breaking and entering and possession of stolen property. He also received another 10 years of supervision following his release.

The accused was also designated a long-term offender after various courts heard that he sexually assaulted young children while living in a foster home as a teen.

With files from Josh Hoffman, CHDR Radio News