A local firefighter has been charged
Photo: Castanets staff
Kelowna firefighter Jason Stoodley
A longtime veteran of the Kelowna fire department has been criminally charged with voyeurism and creating child pornography.
On Thursday, Jason Todd John Stoodley made his first appearance in Vernon courts on charges of secretly observing or recording nudity in a private place and making or publishing child pornography.
Stoodley was first charged on July 3 this year with one count of voyeurism and one count of creating child pornography stemming from an alleged incident on July 1, 2022. But ten days later, a second count of voyeurism stemming from second alleged incident on June 29, 2022.
Both incidents are said to have happened in the Coldstream area, but details of the charges remain unclear at this time.
Stoodley has been a Kelowna firefighter since at least 2011. The City of Kelowna’s 2021 Financial Information Report lists him as “firefighter – 10th year.”
But a “thanks list” prepared by Castanet in 2004 thanking all those who worked on the 2003 Okanagan Mountain Park wildfire listed Jason TJ Stoodley as “Kelowna Fire Department personnel.” It is unclear what role Stoodley played in the infamous wildfire work.
Stuart Leatherdale, director of the City of Kelowna’s corporate and protective services division, says Stoodley was placed on leave from his position with KFD two weeks ago when the city learned of the allegations.
“Mr. Stoodley is currently on leave pending the city’s investigation into the matter, which will determine decisions on leave with or without pay,” Leatherdale said.
Leatherdale did not disclose how long Stoodley worked for the Kelowna Fire Department.
Stoodley is scheduled to appear in court in Vernon on July 28. He remains out of custody.
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